Multi-million rand housing project progress at snail pace due to city financial constraints
The goal of the project is to make housing affordable and cater for those earning between R1 850 and R22 000 per month.
The multi-million rand Chantelle social housing project aimed at alleviating the backlog north of Pretoria, is moving at a slow pace.
According to metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, the R590-million project is 23% complete.
Mashigo said construction of the 1 098 housing units has been stymied by liquidity issues, in the current financial year.
Chantelle is designed to cater to a variety of accommodation needs.
It will consist of 930 two-bedroom, 112 bachelor and 56 studio units as well as a variety of amenities and services for residents.
These include playgrounds and sports fields, as well as landscaped areas for residents to enjoy.
“The project will also have security features such as a guardhouse, boom gates, and perimeter fencing,” Mashigo said.
Additionally, residents will have access to washing lines, community facilities and a creche.
The goal is to make housing affordable and cater to those earning between R1 850 and R22 000 per month.
Mashigo said this project has a timeline of 36 months to completion in phases, however, it was still in its early stages.
“The first phase, which involves 600 units has been given to JBP Group to develop but due to financial constraints, only 156 units are expected to reach completion in this fiscal year.”
The project is financed through the city’s capex budget and other government funding.
MMC for Human Settlements Ofentse Madzebatela said the city envisaged finishing the 156 units this financial year and bringing tenants on board while working to complete the rest.
Madzebatela said the city has experienced delays in obtaining funding from the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA).
“There are some of the housing and township applications that need to be first approved within the city before SHRA can release the funds.”
Madzebatela said the city is also struggling to connect the development to a sewer line because the servitude is in someone’s yard and they are giving the metro a hassle.
“We have gone to court to get an order to forcefully enter the yard and to connect the line,” he said.
He said the metro will wrap up the pending housing applications.
“We will be able to get the SHRA funding, which will hasten the pace of the project,” Madzebatela concluded.
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