City of Joburg unveils Soweto housing development
City of Joburg officials launch the Orlando eKhaya and Power Park Housing Development in Soweto, bringing affordable homes and student accommodation to the community.
The MMC for Economic Development, Clr Nomoya Mnisi, together with local ward councilors and other officials from the City of Joburg officially launched the Orlando eKhaya and Power Park Housing development on May 24.
The development is separated into three phases including the student residential area, bonded housing development and RDP housing with the first mini-phase of the 136 units already completed and occupied as of December 7, 2023.
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Mnisi said during her speech that the launch is not only a celebration or a ribbon cutting, it is a celebration of hope, transformation and the unwavering commitment to build a Joburg that works for everyone.
“Today we are not only launching buildings, we are launching dignity, inclusion and opportunity.
“We are reaffirming our collective resolve to confront and reverse the spatial injustice of our painful past and we are saying the people of Soweto matter.
“This development is a symbol of transformation and that spatial transformation is no longer a talking point but a lead to reality and a coroner stone towards our journey towards creating a city that socially inclusive, economically vibrate and environmentally sustainable,” said Mnisi.
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“The Orlando Ekhaya Housing Prescient when fully completed will offer 2800 quality residential units that are safe and accessible to Joburg residents.
“Phase one that we currently celebrating here today offers 568 walk-up apartments. These are not only units with a blue print but they are homes which are echoed with laughter and dreams.
“The apartments rage in prices from R530 000 to R950 000, a deliberate move to create affordability while maintaining quality.”
She added that they are targeting ordinary residents who qualify for housing using an application through the bank, and students who are studying in UJ Soweto Campus and other colleges in the area.
“The ribbon-cutting ceremony marks a significant step in restoring the dignity of Soweto residents through the provision of affordable housing.
“As part of the day’s activities, we also visited the second site of the Orlando eKhaya and Power Park Housing—a student accommodation facility designed to address the critical shortage of student housing in Soweto.
“Once complete, the development will accommodate over 2000 students, helping to ease housing challenges for students at the University of Johannesburg and other local institutions of higher learning.”
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The councilor of Ward 25, Cambridge Kwapeng, said the developments aim to restore the dignity of Soweto so that people would have an interest in starting their lives ad careers in the area.
“We aim to ensure that areas within our wards have an economical spinoff where people can live, work, study and have fun.
“If you look at the developments, they are close to Bara Mall, the university and the Orlando Towers; have easy access to public transport and Bara Hospital.
“We hope residents will come forward to inquire about theses houses and that they get them for themselves.
“The area is gated, meaning that safety is that of importance and when you go inside there are gyms, play and braai areas. Good change has to come in Soweto, we want people to come in our area and invest,” said Kwapeng.
