Huge project will benefit lucky few

Only a small percentage of Duncan Village residents will benefit from a massive housing project worth millions  under construction in Reeston.

Of the more than 3600 houses that will be built in Chicken Farm, 1137 are almost completed.

Promises were made they would benefit from the Reeston project but a community leader, Rata Tweni said this was not happening.

“When we moved to this place we were told we were going to be prioritised.

“They are building more than 3000 new homes but they can’t even take these 100 families to those homes,” said Tweni.

Siphiwo Mtshambele, who has stayed in a shack for more than 20 years in Khayelitsha informal settlement, said he doubted he would ever get a proper house. “I haven’t heard a word from the municipality officials. I believe I should be benefitting from that development.”

In his state of the metro address in June this year, executive mayor Alfred Mtsi  said it had been a challenge to address the housing requirements within the urban settlement, particularly Duncan Village, for many years. “Duncan Village is an area with historical significance within East London and currently it is estimated that around 70000 and 100000 people reside in the various precincts in mostly informal dwellings.

“The process of development of Duncan Village will be conducted through short, medium and long term objectives that will ultimately allow the formalisation of the area as well as the re-establishment of many families to new developments within BCM,” said Mtsi.

He said the Reeston project would yield no less than 3637 houses.