May SaalTHE Drakenstein municipality carries 8% of the provincial housing backlog. In real terms this translates to over 32 000 people on the waiting list for houses in the Drakenstein area, excluding people in farming communities.
But there is some progress.
According to municipal councillor Arthob Petersen, portfolio holder for housing, 174 houses in Fairyland have been completed and occupied by beneficiaries to date. Another 53 houses will be handed over next week Friday in Fairyland.
“The contractor, Mellon Housing, was appointed to construct the houses. Construction of the houses are on track and houses are being handed over to beneficiaries every second week,” Petersen said.
In the long delayed Project 2 in Mbekweni, a total of 108 houses have been completed, 130 are at foundation level, and another 40 are under construction by Mellon Housing Initiative.
Another 22 stone houses are also currently in the construction process by Vernon and Associates with the assistance of 20 inmates from the department of correctional services.
Another 106 houses were awarded to Palm Builders, which is also busy on site.
Regarding proposed new developments, five areas have been identified.
They mainly entail the upgrading of informal settlements with the construction of low cost residential units.
“The developments will also include associated infrastructure like roads, sewerage, electricity and water.
“The application form and basic assessment report for the proposed upgrading of informal settlementshas been submitted to the department of environmental affairs and development planning and is still awaiting final approval,” Petersen said.
In the Fairyland informal settlement area 269 houses and Siyahlala informal settlement area 246 houses will be constructed.
During construction 156 shack residents from Fairyland and Siyahlala will be relocated to the Hillside area near Fairyland. The rest of the people will be relocated to the Drommedaris housing project near the traffic centre.
Rezoning and subdivision of the site has commenced.
Other projects in the pipeline:
* At the Drommedaris Street project for 2300 families, bulk services have been completed. A tender for construction has been awarded to the contractor Civil 2000.
* In Noodkamp, Wellington, a tender for 33 houses for construction of civil work has been advertised and the proposed date for the successful contractor is to commence on site February or March for the construction of civil works.
* Also in the pipeline are 150 low cost and 50 middle income houses for Gouda and 300 houses for farm workers in Paarl next to Boland Park stadium.
“The town planner is currently busy with the layout plan of both the Gouda and Paarl farm workers projects. Construction of each project will be done in phases,” said Petersen.
Regarding middle income housing (GAP housing) three areas have been identified in the Groenheuwel area, the open land next to the Paarl East swimming pools as well as a site in Mbekweni next to Jan van Riebeeck Drive. Tenders have been called for servicing of the sites.
“Only first time home owners will be accommodated and preference will be given to the applicants on Council’s integrated housing waiting list, as well as tenants in municipal rental units.
“The development envisaged is destined for applicants whose gross income range between R3 501 and R10 000 per month,” Petersen said this week.
