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Query over low-cost houses

August 28, 2006 Edition 1

ALMOST a year since eThekwini Mayor Obed Mlaba announced an ambitious
pre-election R10-billion low-cost housing plan for 20 000 families on prime
land north of Durban, no work has started on the proposed site.

Opposition parties and shack dwellers – who were promised they would be
first in line for the new houses on a site bordering Umhlanga Ridge, Mount
Edgecombe and Phoenix – have heard nothing more about the development.

Just before the last municipal elections Mlaba said development of the
four-year Phoenix East integrated housing development project would start
early this year.

The site is owned by Moreland Developments which is part of the
Tongaat-Hulett Group.

EThekwini Municipality executive committee member and DA Councillor John
Steenhuisen said the situation with the low-cost housing project “remains
the same”.

To date, there had been no consultation with any council committee and no
formal approval given, he said.

When the announcement was made last year opposition parties were concerned
that the decision had not been put to the council. They raised concerns that
the plan would affect property prices in bordering areas and would affect
the rights of people living in surrounding communities.

Steenhuisen said he was “highly suspicious” of the housing project
announcement which had come at a “convenient time” ahead of registrations
for the local government election.

Moreland Director T C Chetty confirmed that no development had begun. His
organisation and the municipality were engaging in the necessary processes
of consultation with all stakeholders.

S’bu Zikode, President of Abahlali baseMjondolo, an organisation looking
after the interests of people living in informal settlements, said the shack
dwellers had not been given time-frames on housing delivery.

Rights

The movement, which has more than 20 000 members from 30 informal
settlements in Durban and Pinetown, is the largest organisation in the
country known to be with working with shack dwellers for their rights.

After the announcement, Zikode said his organisation had sent Mlaba a
document on November 27 last year, asking about the municipality’s planned
housing developments that had not been accomplished. They had received no
response.

Commenting on behalf of Mlaba, housing, cleansing, solid waste and human
resources support committee Chairman S’bu Gumede said the city was working
closely with land owners, Moreland, in “creating an integrated human
settlement which provides housing and work opportunities for people from all
walks of life”. The development was a large and complex one that required
partnership with the owners and the government.

A joint planning team comprising the municipality and Moreland officials was
investigating the planning options and potential land uses for the area.

Gumede said a joint “visioning workshop” by the team had been held in June
and the outcome was to be presented to senior city officials.

“In short, the project is on and all necessary processes are in progress,”
he said.

amelia.naidoo@inl.co.za