COME June 2023, several families in the Jachtvlakte community of Booysen Park in Nelson Mandela Bay will move into brand new homes.
This is as a result of the housing project that started in this community at the end of March and is scheduled to be completed by the end of next month.
During a recent oversight visit to the area, the excitement was tangible, with hundreds of residents more than ready for a new start.
Some have even said that it is a fitting event, given the recent celebration of Freedom Day.
Speaking to residents during the visit to assess the progress of the project, MMC for Human Settlements in the metro, Tukela Zumani, said that he was pleased with the progress made thus far.
More than 70 slabs, just over 40 wall plates and over 20 roof units, have been completed during this first phase.
He explained that the project will benefit 357 families, but currently only 225 have been approved, and 83 are being built during the R13.7 million first phase of the project.
“I’m very pleased with the progress on site. I am told that there are eight contractors working, and they are all well on their way to completing their allocations. All challenges faced were resolved swiftly and the project is moving along smoothly. We are confident that we will be able to engage with the provincial department to get approval for all the units,” Zumani said.
“This marks the beginning of a new chapter for this community and we are ecstatic to be here to see this project become a reality.
“The human settlements work entails more than just building houses as it is also an important job because it seeks to improve the living conditions of our residents entirely.
“When we improve the way people live, we often see an improvement in the communities. The drug abuse, gender-based violence and gangsterism decrease and the way of thinking and doing things improves. We are well on our way to reclaim our status as a trusted housing developer after the mandate was taken away from the municipality for seven years, leaving us with a backlog of housing development to be done,” he added.
A beneficiary of the project, Marlene Jasson, said that she was happy to see the project become a reality after years of talks.
“It is a beacon of hope for us. I have been staying in a shack here for almost three years. Our children will grow up safer and in dignified households so we are very happy to see the progress of the project and we certainly cannot wait to move into our new homes,” she said.
