2 October 2007
The Evaton Renewal Programme received a much needed boost when two major
financial institutions came on board as partners to the programme.
Standard Bank and the National Housing Finance Corporation announced their
commitment during the Evaton Focus Week which was launched by the Gauteng MEC
for Housing, Nomvula Mokonyane, and members of the Sedibeng District
Municipality and Emfuleni Local Municipality today, Tuesday, 2 October
2007.
The Focus Week is aimed at marketing the Evaton Township to potential
investors as well as showcasing the progress made since the appointment of new
contractors to head the project. The Evaton regeneration programme experienced
challenges when the then appointed contractor did not deliver on the
mandate.
The MEC then announced during the Evaton Renewal Project general meeting
earlier this year that consistent monitoring of the project will make sure that
it is completed within the specified time.
Addressing the residents of Evaton, Mokonyane said from the outset they knew
that the implementation was going to be a challenge, but that the community
would jointly tackled those challenges.
"As government we invested a lot of money in this project and appointed
entities trusting that they will stick to contractual arrangements," said
Mokonyane.
She said they have re-engineered the project so that it begins to address
the fundamental issues of the people of Evaton.
"We have reviewed our strategies and priorities such that the process of
change can be accelerated and the outputs thereof become visible," she
said.
The new approach by the department will prioritise housing and support
infrastructure and more emphasis will be on attracting private investors for
economic developments that have high impact and is more visible.
The MEC said for them to show an impact in this project they need the
support and participation of the private sector.
Evaton has been selected by the provincial government mainly because it
symbolises the reality of black townships with low economic activity and
disjointed spatial planning with deteriorated municipal services.
The renewal project seeks not only to uplift the face of Evaton with regard
to infrastructure, but will also support current small businesses, develop new
entrepreneurs and also create employment for the people of Evaton.
Enquiries:
Name: Aviva Maqwa
Cell: 083 600 3830
Name: Mandla Sidu
Cell: 083 602 6169
Issued by: Department of Housing, Gauteng Provincial Government
2 October 2007
