Local Government and Traditional Affairs of the Eastern Cape and the Executive
Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay on the signing of an agreement to fast track Human
Settlement delivery in the Metro
16 July 2007
Port Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape: The Minister of Housing,
Lindiwe Sisulu, the Eastern Cape Housing, Local Government and Traditional
Affairs MEC, Thoko Xasa and the Executive Mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay
Municipality Nondumiso Maphazi today signed an agreement to fast track the
implementation of the Zanemvula human settlement project.
The three political principals agreed to appoint Thubelisha Homes as a
specialist project management company and also deploy officials from the
national Department of Housing to strengthen and support the implementation of
the Municipality's Human Settlement Strategy, to deal with Zanemvula
project.
The agreement is guided by the cabinet decision that provides for mega
projects to be managed by special purpose vehicles, and lessons learnt on the
implementation of the National Human Settlement pilot project (N2 Gateway
Project in the City of Cape Town) on coordination of intergovernmental projects
and fast tracking decision-making processes.
Zanemvula Human Settlement Project is the biggest human settlement project
in the Eastern Cape and one of the biggest in the country. The project will
deliver approximately 15 000 units with basic social and economic amenities
providing decent shelter to more than 90 000 people at a cost of more than R1
billion spread over three years.
The three spheres of government also agreed that a joint team led by a
senior official from the national Department of Housing will be deployed in
Nelson Mandela Bay to assist with building capacity, strengthening the human
settlement delivery systems and providing technical and project management
support to deal with the Zanemvula project.
This team will be supervised by the Director-General of Housing, the Head of
Department of the Eastern Cape Housing and the Municipal Manager who will meet
regularly to give guidance and review progress.
The Zanemvula Project covers the Soweto on Sea, Swartkops, Veeplaas and
Chatty areas, and entails the relocation of those households currently located
below the 100 year flood line, de-densification and upgrading, and the
rectification of old housing stock.
Enquiries:
Ndivhuwo Mabaya
Head of Media Services
Cell: 083 645 7838
Issued by: Department of Housing
16 July 2007
