17 February 2009
The implementation of an integrated approach on housing delivery in
Mpumalanga has commenced. The Integrated Residential Development Programme
(IRDP) is a vehicle through which the concept of Breaking New Ground (BNG) can
be realised. The programme seeks to integrate different income categories and
different racial groups into a single residential area and address the question
of affordability of low and middle income without excluding the high in come
category. The department has acquired land for the IRDP in Thaba Chweu, Govan
Mbeki, and Mbombela Municipalities.
This programme seeks to bring sustainable housing closer to economic nodes
of towns and cities to promote social and rental housing and improve
stakeholder relations in housing development. To this end, the Mpumalanga
Department of Housing is implementing three projects, one in each of the
districts where building of housing units will commence in the 2009/10
financial year.
In Nkangala District, the Emalahleni Local Municipality, ABSA, National
Department of Housing and Mpumalanga Department of Housing will implement a
planned project of 300 housing units in Klarinet in the next financial year. A
Memorandum of Understanding between the parties has already been signed and
construction will start in the 2009/10 financial year.
In Ehlanzeni District, Thaba Chweu Local Municipality, the department
through the Mpumalanga Housing Finance Corporation (MHFCo) has commenced with
the IRDP. Currently infrastructure is being laid to cater for 548 housing
units. The construction of those units will commence in the 2009/10 financial
year.
In Gert Sibande District, the department and the MHFCo are in a process of
appointing professional teams to make proposals for the roll out of the IRDP on
the land already acquired by the department in Dipaleseng and Govan Mbeki
Municipalities.
Enquiries:
Simphiwe Kunene
Cell: 082 413 3931
Issued by: Department of Housing, Mpumalanga Provincial Government
17 February 2009
