Kouga Municipality is set to construct 668 houses for underprivileged residents in Ocean View, Jeffreys Bay, at a cost of more than R78 million over the next two years – with 200 to be constructed this year.
This after the municipality submitted a funding application to the Department of Human Settlements (Eastern Cape) in 2019, and approval of R78 067 403.16 was received in February 2022.
According to Kouga Executive Mayor, Horatio Hendricks, the first 200 houses will be constructed in the 2022/ 2023 financial year, while the remaining 468 houses will be completed in the 2023/2024 financial year.
With the site officially handed over in June this year, the first 200 houses – constructed by Kontinental Engineering, as appointed by the Department of Human Settlements – are set to be completed within the next 18 months.
“The project forms part of the Ocean View 1 500 housing project, of which the internal services – including sewer, water, and electricity – have been completed at a cost of close to R50 million in December 2021,” said Hendricks. A series of public participation meetings were held with the beneficiary community, SMMEs, and the appointed contractor.
The purpose of these community engagements was to make sure that all role-players are playing a meaningful role in the planning and implementation of their projects.
“It is one of 10 projects approved by the Department of Human Settlements in 2009 and which were delayed due to insufficient bulk infrastructure,” said Hendricks.
He said that not only will the houses assist in restoring the dignity of beneficiaries, but they will also make it easier for these families to stay safe as they will have proper roofs over their heads. “The municipality is proud of the role we could play in getting the project back on track,” said Hendricks. “Not only did the municipality make the land available for the houses, but we also ensured that the bulk infrastructure was in place.”
