The provincial Department of Human Settlements in Mpumalanga has announced plans to build 550 rental units during this financial year as it seeks to provide affordable accommodation in the city centre.
This, according to the Human Settlement MEC Siphosezwe Masango will ensure that people of the province have decent and affordable accommodation closer to places of work.
“The department will work through all decaying urban areas in a bid to improve them to settle people that need accommodation in towns. The province’s economic active areas of Govan Mbeki, Mbombela, eMalahleni and Steve Tshwete Municipalities stand to benefit from the projects,” said Masango.
He added that most people in these towns only need decent rental stock as opposed to fully subsidised government houses. “To deal with issues of urban decay and fully realise the ideal of city rejuvenation, the department also intends buying two properties for rental stock development” he said.
In addition to the planned rental stock units, Masango added that his department plan to deliver 2 150 housing units through the informal settlements eradication programme.
On Integrated Residential Development Programme, a massive 8 234 stands will be developed and 1 600 top structures delivered. The roll-out of these projects has been extended to include two municipalities, namely Emakhazeni and Steve Tshwete.
He further called on all municipalities to enact by – laws to ban illegal land occupation or land invasion. “Municipalities are forced to constantly react to unplanned demands for services. This then becomes one of the causes of service delivery protests”
According to Masango his department’s redefined mandate requires concerted efforts in the coordination of other role players for the delivery of integrated and sustainable human settlements.
“The fresh approach dictates that all new settlements must have basic services such as water, electricity, sewerage, education, health and recreational facilities, amongst others,” he added.
Enquiries:
Freddy Ngobe
Tel: 013 766 6014
Cell: 082 859 4630
Mpumalanga towns to get facelift
Province
