City demonstrates social housing delivery to visiting Gauteng delegation
21 April 2023
The City of Cape Town’s Human Settlements Portfolio Committee
Chairperson visited a number of its social housing projects across the metro
with a visiting delegation of four members of the Gauteng legislature. Topics discussed included the City's successful roll out of social housing
projects thus far.
The City's Chairperson of the Human Settlement Portfolio Committee, Councillor Anda Ntsodo, led the visiting Members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature - Mervyn Cirota, Evert Phillipus Du Plessis, Nicolaas Mattheus de Jager and Alan Joseph Fuchs – to several social housing projects yesterday, 20 April 2023.
Social housing is a key pillar of the strategy to deliver more affordable social housing projects, located in well-located areas. Social housing offers affordable rental units for families with a combined monthly income of between R1 500 and R22 000.
The social housing projects visited included:
- Bothasig
- Goodwood
- Maitland
- Conradie, Pinelands
'The projects visited range from one where construction has only recently started to another which has been tenanted for several years to indicate the progress made at our social housing sites and our involvement with private partners and different spheres of government. These projects are part of the City and partners' development of affordable housing opportunities on well-located pieces of land in and near urban centres across the metro to enable greater spatial equality.
'I am pleased to note that the tour was a success. The visiting team was impressed about the City's role in social housing development, which they said could be replicated in Gauteng. We thank our visitors for the opportunity to learn from one another. We demonstrated the City's commitment to housing delivery and collaboration to the benefit of our residents. I hope we can continue along this path of service delivery together,' said Councillor Ntsodo
Beneficiaries of City housing projects are selected in accordance with the City's Housing Allocation Policy and Housing Needs Register to ensure housing opportunities are made available in a fair and transparent manner that prevents queue jumping and to those who qualify for housing as per the South African legislation. The City's political office bearers do not have access to or influence over the Register and its qualifying beneficiaries.
Facts about social housing:
- It is managed by accredited social housing institutions (SHIs).
- SHIs are solely dependent on rental income. They receive no operational grants. They are able to service their debt finance through rental income.
- As with any rental contract, tenants formally enter into lease agreements. The landlord is the SHI.
- If tenants do not adhere to their lease agreements, the responsible SHI will follow the necessary legal process. Tenants must therefore pay to stay as the rental money is used for the day-to-day operation and upkeep of the complex.
- The City has nothing to do with the day-to-day management of SHIs, the rental amount or evictions for not paying.
- Before potential beneficiaries can apply for social housing, they are required to register on the City's Housing Needs Register.
- Projects are developed on well-located, accessible land in and near urban centres.
- It is not low-income subsidised government housing, such as Breaking New Ground (or the commonly called RDP housing and it is not City Council Rental Units).
- It is managed with 24-hour security and access control.
- The City may sell City-owned land at a discounted price for social housing developments to make projects economically viable.
- Social housing offers improved access to social facilities and other amenities.
- A single grant subsidy can benefit on average five households versus one household for Council rental units.
- Social housing adds value to vacant pieces of land.
- Social housing has the potential to improve property values in an area.
For more information and to apply: https://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Apply/City-housing-and-properties/Housing-opportunities/Apply-for-social-housing
Anonymous tip offs are welcome: Residents can report crime and by-law offences anonymously, 24-hours a day, on 0800 1100 77.
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
