More than R25-billion has been allocated for building six mega housing projects in the Eastern Cape.
Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu announced the funding while presenting her budget vote for the 2016-17 financial year in parliament.
Of the total provincial allocation, more than R20-billion will be channelled through the hotly contested Nelson Mandela Bay Metro (NMBM), while the remainder will be split between King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality and Buffalo City Metro.
At least one political analyst said the R20-billion would boost NMBM mayor Danny Jordan’s local government election campaign.
The money, which Sisulu said would be made available once the necessary paperwork had been completed, will go to building about 95000 houses over the next decade.
The houses are to be developed at six different locations in the province and their construction is expected to create thousands of jobs.
In KSD R2.1-billion has been allocated for the construction of 15000 houses in Mthatha, while BCM will receive R2.6-billion for the construction of 15000 houses at Cove Ridge.
In NMB the money will be used to construct 64342 houses. They will be divided as follows:
- Coega Ridge (38000 units);
- Walmer (12800 units);
- Algoa Park (1512 units); and
- Florida Heights (12030 units).
The residential units are meant for low, middle and high income earners and will include a work-and-play development.
The provincial ANC said the allocation of funds would help address NMBM’s crippling housing backlog and unemployment.
The DA dismissed the plan as an election ploy that unfairly limited housing in other major municipalities.
But ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said: “The ANC is the governing party. Each programme of service delivery won’t be informed by the ambitions or aspirations of other political parties.
“We have a high concentration of people in Nelson Mandela Bay coupled with the infrastructure backlog.
“Now we are delivering services and we are changing people’s lives.
“We are addressing issues of development in our province because we committed ourselves to do so as the ANC and as government.
“We have been consistent in ensuring that huge backlogs of houses in Nelson Mandela Bay are addressed.”
Provincial DA leader Athol Trollip said the ANC had proved incapable of building, delivering and handing out title deeds for housing.
“For too long, we have seen rampant corruption and shocking workmanship prevent our people from having access to dignified and quality housing,” said Trollip.
“The ANC has proven, at every level of government, that it simply cannot manage housing funds, with hundreds of millions lost to tender fraud on a yearly basis. This is why the people of NMB will vote the ANC out on August 3.”
Political analyst at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection, Dr Mcebisi Ndletyana said although the ANC could not deliver the houses three months before the election, “this budget gives the mayor something to brag about”.
“Mayors are starting their new financial year and they will be making their budget speeches, so this is something for Danny to brag about – to say that there are commitments and there are resources to deal with the housing problem, and in this case he would be specifically speaking of money that is already available.
“Of course he would not have houses to deliver in the next three months but the fact that there is money will lift people’s hopes and it would be a good campaign message. It is never too late – it...is a boost for his campaign.” — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
R25bn for six large housing projects in E Cape
Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu announced the funding while presenting her budget vote for the 2016-17 financial year in parliament.
Of the total provincial allocation, more than R20-billion will be channelled through the hotly contested Nelson Mandela Bay Metro (NMBM), while the remainder will be split between King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality and Buffalo City Metro.
At least one political analyst said the R20-billion would boost NMBM mayor Danny Jordan’s local government election campaign.
The money, which Sisulu said would be made available once the necessary paperwork had been completed, will go to building about 95000 houses over the next decade.
The houses are to be developed at six different locations in the province and their construction is expected to create thousands of jobs.
In KSD R2.1-billion has been allocated for the construction of 15000 houses in Mthatha, while BCM will receive R2.6-billion for the construction of 15000 houses at Cove Ridge.
In NMB the money will be used to construct 64342 houses. They will be divided as follows:
The residential units are meant for low, middle and high income earners and will include a work-and-play development.
The provincial ANC said the allocation of funds would help address NMBM’s crippling housing backlog and unemployment.
The DA dismissed the plan as an election ploy that unfairly limited housing in other major municipalities.
But ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said: “The ANC is the governing party. Each programme of service delivery won’t be informed by the ambitions or aspirations of other political parties.
“We have a high concentration of people in Nelson Mandela Bay coupled with the infrastructure backlog.
“Now we are delivering services and we are changing people’s lives.
“We are addressing issues of development in our province because we committed ourselves to do so as the ANC and as government.
“We have been consistent in ensuring that huge backlogs of houses in Nelson Mandela Bay are addressed.”
Provincial DA leader Athol Trollip said the ANC had proved incapable of building, delivering and handing out title deeds for housing.
“For too long, we have seen rampant corruption and shocking workmanship prevent our people from having access to dignified and quality housing,” said Trollip.
“The ANC has proven, at every level of government, that it simply cannot manage housing funds, with hundreds of millions lost to tender fraud on a yearly basis. This is why the people of NMB will vote the ANC out on August 3.”
Political analyst at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection, Dr Mcebisi Ndletyana said although the ANC could not deliver the houses three months before the election, “this budget gives the mayor something to brag about”.
“Mayors are starting their new financial year and they will be making their budget speeches, so this is something for Danny to brag about – to say that there are commitments and there are resources to deal with the housing problem, and in this case he would be specifically speaking of money that is already available.
“Of course he would not have houses to deliver in the next three months but the fact that there is money will lift people’s hopes and it would be a good campaign message. It is never too late – it...is a boost for his campaign.” — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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