The Cosmo City mixed housing development flagship project, which started 10 years ago with criticism that it won’t work, allocated the last batch of RDP houses to beneficiaries today. At the start of the project the government and the private sector committed to build 12500 houses, spread across different typologies. To date the government is proud that 10820 families are living in secure homes in Cosmo City.
Local Government and Housing MEC Humphrey Mmemezi and City of Joburg Housing MMC Dan Bovu handed over the last batch of 30 houses which concludes the building of RDP houses in Cosmo City. The department’s commitment was to build 5000 RDP houses but due to technical problems with the land on which to build RDP houses, the number was reduced to 4914.
Cosmo City is the first mixed housing project in South Africa, which formed part of the Breaking New Ground strategy. This unique approach sought to build human settlements in well located land, and closer to economic opportunities.
MEC Mmemezi told the community of Cosmo City that the mixed housing development and its success, is a testimony of government’s aim to bridge the racial divide and to ensure that all communities live together in harmony. “Today we are proud to come back to this beautiful suburb, a perfect example of mixed housing development in South Africa. This is a living testimony that the rich, the poor and the middle income people of this country, black or white can live together side by side,” said Mmemezi.
Amongst the beneficiaries, was Ms Joyce Mashamaite (47) from Diepsloot. She made news when Human Settlements minister, Tokyo Sexwale, spent the night at her shack in August 2009. Today she is happy to be the proud owner of one of the last batch of RDP houses handed out today.
MEC Mmemezi concluded that: “we have also made exceptional success in other typologies as well, and we are nearing our set targets. These are the other achievements so far;
- Financed Linked units: 2428 units built (target 3000)
- Bonded Houses: 3197 units built (target 3500)
- Rental apartments: 281 completed (target 1000)
“These achievements clearly demonstrate the success of a government hard at work, doing more together with all stakeholders to achieve more,” MEC Mmemezi said.
Enquiries:
Motsamai Motlhaolwa
Cell: 079 897 2240
E-mail: Motsamai.motlhaolwa@gauteng.gov.za
