The multimillion-rand second phase of the Mbhashe 500, a housing project addressing the disaster that destroyed 500 homes in the Mbhashe Local Municipality area, is now in the planning stages following the introduction of the implementing agent.
This phase will involve the construction of 250 housing units in wards 22, 29, and 30. It builds on the first phase, which started on 3 March and is expected to be completed by 2 March 2028.
Responding to questions from Mthatha Express, Human Settlements Department provincial spokesperson Yanga Funani confirmed that Gap Infrastructure Corporation (GIC) was introduced to local authorities on 19 May.
The total project cost for all 500 housing units is R66,188,295.
“GIC has been appointed as the implementing agent, while the contractor will be appointed after the completion of the Inception and Planning phase. It is estimated that the contractor will provide subcontracting opportunities for approximately five subcontractors.
“Job opportunities for youth, women, and men will be offered by the service provider during the implementation phase. We estimate around 29 job opportunities per month, though final figures will be confirmed once construction begins,” Funani said.
According to Funani, the second phase is projected to be completed on 18 May 2028.
When asked about measures to prevent illegal occupation of the houses once completed, Funani explained that the project is “in-situ,” meaning the homes will be built on the exact sites of the homes that were destroyed.
“There is an existing list of potential beneficiaries submitted by the municipality to the department, and this will be used by the service provider for beneficiary administration,” he added.
Providing context for the crisis, municipal spokesperson Babalwa Magqwanti explained that the housing project responds to adverse disaster incidents that severely affected the area between 2022 and 2023.
“The disaster left hundreds of families from various wards in Mbhashe Local Municipality homeless and destitute, as most of their households were destroyed. In line with its mandate, the municipality coordinated support from the Department of Human Settlements to construct 500 housing units for those most affected,” she said.
