DURBAN - The Department of Human Settlements today celebrated the delivery of 4.7 million housing opportunities since 1994 by launching three social housing projects worth R300 million in Bellair, south of the city, meant to bring beneficiaries closer to work opportunities.

This milestone emboldens government’s commitment to the delivery of houses, not only to the poor, but also creation of housing opportunities for those who can either build for themselves, buy houses through banks or rent.

“This project is purely for rental and caters for those who do not necessarily wish to buy or who are not within the income bracket that can afford to buy a home. We make sure that these projects are built within or close to economically viable places and close to transport modes,” said Minister of Human Settlements Nomaindiya Mfeketo.

She emphasized that the programme is 100 percent rental with no option to buy. Units are owned by Social Housing Institutions, funded partly through a government grant and loans. Rental payments are, therefore, crucial for sustainability of the project.

Other housing options offered by the Department allow for ownership, not social housing.

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Human Settlements Ravi Pillay said the province was one of the best performing having delivered, annually, an average of 25 000 housing opportunities over the past seven years.

ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN SETTLEMTS

For more information please call Xolani Xundu  at 083 788 5747