10 April 2007
The Gauteng Department of Housing has noted with concern newspapers reports
based on the information generated by the Democratic Alliance (DA) about lack
of progress in the Bekkersdal Urban Renewal Project. The Department views the
reports as misleading, one sided and completely out of context.
The Bekkersdal Urban Renewal project, unlike other regeneration projects,
was initiated in 2004 and its core objectives are to address the plight of
Bekkersdal residents located on high risk and dolomatic land through a
relocation plan. Those affected include communities residing on informal
settlements, backyard shacks and hostel residents.
The Department of Housing together with the West Rand District Municipality
and Randfontein Local Council have identified suitable land in Westonaria South
and Droogehuewel/Middelvlei. Planning is at an advanced stage and a market
study is underway in Bekkersdal to determine the beneficiary profile for the
new settlements.
While relocation plans are being finalised, the urban renewal project has
been focused on the upgrading infrastructure in the formal and informal areas
of Bekkersdal. Projects underway include provision of basic services such as
toilets and stand pipes in the informal settlements, storm water management,
upgrading of a taxi rank, partial street scrapping of the Khomo ea Hlaba, Panya
and Godla Streets, dolomatic risk management to asses possibilities of sink
holes and paving in the City Business District (CBD) and at the library.
In the current financial year the Bekkersdal Urban Renewal project will
concentrate on among other things the completion of the local business support
centre, upgrading of the information hub and the emergency centre.
The Department is also building additional offices within the information
hub in order to accommodate some of its staff members on site as well as to
establish the housing information centre.
Furthermore, electricity connections are being improved within the facility
in order to avoid unnecessary power black-outs. While renovations are ongoing,
office equipment has been removed on site for safety reasons.
The information hub has been converted into a Multi Purpose Community Centre
(MPCC) to accommodate not only the project but also developmental
organisations, which provide services to the Bekkersdal community.
Roads construction is ongoing on two roads located in the gateway and
industrial precincts will be completed by the end of May 2007. The upgrading
and street scrapping of portions of Khomo ea Hlaba, Godla and Panya streets
will be completed in June 2007.
The construction of a portion of the storm water channel will also be
completed in June this year.
With regard to the two clinics, the East clinic is 99% complete and will be
fully completed and handed over to the municipality at the end of April 2007
while the site for the West clinic was handed over to the construction company
last month. The clinic will be completed by the end of July 2007.
The Department of Housing is content that a lot of progress has been made to
speed up the Bekkersdal Urban Renewal project in the face of numerous
challenges mainly related to the unavailability of land for the
relocations.
For more information contact:
Victor Moreriane
Cell: 082 561 3768
Mandla Sidu
Cell: 083 602 6169
Issued by: Department of Housing, Gauteng Provincial Government
10 April 2007
