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DRAKENSTEIN has a housing backlog of 20 309, but at last there seems to be progress.
According to Arthob Petersen, executive councillor in charge of housing, the outcome of the IDP (Integrated Development Plan) proved housing to be the biggest need in Drakenstein.
The transition to the Executive Mayoral System caused some adjustments, but Petersen and a team started working on a housing strategy to submit to the Mayoral Committee.
One of the aims is a housing plan to develop and co-ordinate housing in a systematic way.
Petersen is determined to make a difference: "When we look at the circumstances under which people are living, one day longer is one day too much."
He urged councillors at a recent meeting of the Mayoral Committee to consider the wider picture when looking at housing.
"We have to address the inequalities of the past without adversely affecting the rest of the community."
Councillor Petersen and his team have started to put structures in place to reactivate projects that have ground to a halt.
He explained that until recently all housing schemes had been project-linked, in line with national policy.
"Because of poor craftmanship, the quality of the houses was not always acceptable. The size (27 square metres) was also problematic. The emphasis now is more on quality than quantity."
Several changes to the housing policy contributed to delay projects.
According to the project-linked scheme, beneficiaries had to pay R2479 before work could start on their top structures.
Petersen is excited a fairly recent development - the establishment of the Peoples' Housing Process (PHP), whereby beneficiaries are key partners as they decide on their house design, size and are actively involved in the building of their houses.
"PHP requires no money up front. Council investigated the scheme and then, with the consent of the beneficiaries, requested Province to switch from a project-linked subsidy to People's Housing Process.
"This took some time, but two weeks ago we got the green light for 40 houses in Phola Park and a further 14 in Chris Hani.
"We have made wonderful progress in Chris Hani, with 210 of the 309 houses already finished."
"With PHP the Municipality remains the developer, with facilitators to help with negotiations and submissions to the Provincial Housing Board."
Petersen said they have also applied for a further 1000 top structures in Silvertown, Thembani Square, Langabuya and H Block in Mbekweni to be developed as PHP.
"We are also looking into including Project 59 (Green Fields). Beneficiaries will however, first be consulted and the PHP concept will be clearly explained in order to receive their buy-in into this concept."
Petersen gave an overview on some of the other projects.
Project 59 (Greenfields): Phases 1, 2, 3 and a part of phase 4 have been developed.
In phase 4 a total of 255 top structures must be built. It is hoped that services (sewerage, water, electricity, roads) for phases 5, 6 and 7 will be completed in the current financial year.
They have negotiated with M5, the contractor for the first phases, to look into and repair defects in some of the houses.
Project 35 (Amstelhof): It is hoped that Province will pay subsidies according to a beneficiary's income at the time of application.
"There is R1 million available, but we can do nothing without provincial approval."
Project 2 (Mbekweni): The building of the 835 houses in Project 2 has been delayed since 1997, partly because of a squabble about house sizes.
The Provincial Department of Housing had recently made additional funding available for the completion of projects which were blocked due to inflationary pressure on costs.
A new application for top structures (27 sq/m) has been submitted to the Department and the Municipality is now waiting for a reply.
Project 1068 (Wellington): An investigation is underway to determine why this project is not progressing.
"We are considering reallocating the 339 unutilised erven to people on the waiting list."
Gouda, Saron en Simondium are other priority areas Council is looking into.
Emergency plan
"We are in the process of developing a housing emergency plan to accommodate people in cases of eviction or disaster."
"The circumstances of people in informal settlements are totally unacceptable. We are considering steps to upgrade these areas with regard to services or to relocate the people to a serviced site, especially identified for informal settlement."
The planning department of Drakenstein is currently undertaking a land audit to determine land to use for housing and other development.
Petersen is also looking into revitalising the Housing Development Fund.
"We are very grateful for the annual housing grant from national government, but the R22,1 million we received this year is not nearly enough, in view of the huge backlog in Drakenstein." |