The Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has undertaken to clear all challenges that hinder the implementation of the Southern Cape Corridor Development (SCCD) Project in the Garden Route District Municipality.

“Today I visited the bungalows situated here in Knysna and I saw that there’s a need for an urgent intervention to fast-track implementation of the housing projects in the area and I have declared the situation an emergency”, said Minister Kubayi during a community engagement at Concordia Faith Mission Church, in Knysna, where she led a delegation from the three spheres of government to report on progress in the provision of sustainable human settlements.

Teams from the Department of Human Settlements will, as early as next week, conduct assessments to determine the kind of interventions required to develop the area for Human Settlements. This includes the Southern Cape Corridor Development Project, projected for construction on the 55.2468 hectares of land parcels donated by the Department of Transport through its agency, the South African National Road Agency (SANRAL). However, the project has stalled due to the lack of bulk infrastructure, land invasions, and some portions of the land that are unsuitable for development.

It is envisaged that the project will provide more than 600 houses, which will benefit people living in poor conditions as well as communities that were ravaged by the 2017 fires in Knysna, Bitou (and to an extent George). The fire victims have since been accommodated in Transitional Relocation Units (TRAs) constructed in the area. In addition to the land donated by SANRAL, the Knysna Municipality has identified various government-owned land parcels, which are critical in addressing human settlement challenges within the District Municipality. The identified properties measure a total extent of 470 hectares, with approximately 100 hectares suitable for human settlement development.

The visit to the Garden Route District Municipality was to monitor performance, get feedback on the progress in the implementation of our projects and find solutions to delays or blockages.

“Working together with the Province and the Municipalities, we must respond urgently to help people who are still living in poor conditions and Temporary Relocation Units. Constant engagements with communities is important, to give them feedback on how far we are with projects and what is the next step”, added Minister Kubayi.

In-loco inspections conducted included the Wolwedans Housing Project in the Greenhaven area in Mosselbay Municipality, with Minister Kubayi also launching the George offices of Community Schemes Ombudsman Services (CSOS), an agency of the Department of Human Settlements responsible for regulating the conduct of parties within community schemes.

Thursday’s programs began early morning with a visit to elderly beneficiaries of the Qolweni Housing Project in the Bitou Municipality, Ms Phumla Mdatyulwa (70) and Msizwa Maguyo (75), which culminated in the handing over of title deeds to other residents at the Kwanokuthula Community Hall.

“We are here to handover title deeds as part of our commitment to people who must be given back their dignity through security of tenure in terms of property ownership, said Minister Kubayi.

The visit formed part of the 2023/2024 Budget Vote activities and the upcoming Presidential District Development Model (DDM) Imbizo, scheduled for Friday 19 May 2023 in Paarl, Western Cape. The Imbizo is aimed at assessing service delivery through implementation and enables integrated and responsive planning, implementation, and budgeting across all spheres of government.

Minister Kubayi was joined by the Deputy Minister Pam Tshwete, Executive Mayors of Garden Route District Municipality. Cllr. Memory Booysen, George Local Municipality, Cllr. Ald Van Wyk and the Bitou Local Municipality Deputy Mayor, Cllr Mavis Busakwe.

Media Enquiries, contact Hlengiwe Nhlabathi-Mokota, Spokesperson for Minister Kubayi on 064 754 8426 or hlengiwe.nhlabathi@dhs.gov.za

Issued by the Ministry of Human Settlements Govan Mbeki House 240 Justice Mahomed Street, Pretoria, 0001