​The City of Cape Town’s Human Settlements Directorate, in conjunction with the elected People’s Housing Process (PHP) Support Organisation, has commenced with the construction of the top structures of the Masiphumelele Phase 4 housing project.

Civil engineering services have already been provided in terms of a previous contract.

The project comprises 227 Breaking New Ground (BNG) State-subsidised houses for qualifying beneficiaries from the Masiphumelele wetlands informal settlement and beneficiaries from Masiphumelele backyards.

‘It is very exciting to see that the Masiphumelele Phase 4 housing project is progressing well and that work here is on track. The contractors have started to lay the foundations and build the top structures. This means qualifying beneficiaries from the Masiphumelele wetlands informal settlement and from Masiphumelele backyards will be one step closer to receiving their new homes. As with all of our projects, we are absolutely dependent on community support and cooperation. There are many challenges in Masiphumelele but only with the support of the community will we be able to improve the living conditions of our residents.

‘There is much work to be done in Masiphumelele and, where we are able to enhance basic service delivery, we are doing everything possible,’ said Councillor Booi.

The expenditure on this project amounts to R85 million and includes money allocated for the bulk earthworks; internal civil engineering services for the provision of water, sanitation and roads; electricity reticulation; and street lighting.

The visit to the Masiphumelele Phase 4 housing project was part of the City’s continuing public engagement initiatives in this area and across the metro.

‘The City’s Human Settlements Directorate is aware of the housing need that exists in our city and the impact that it has on the lives of our residents. Councillor Booi and I therefore engaged with the community of Masiphumelele as part of ongoing engagements, to listen to their concerns first-hand and to reassure them that we are committed to providing housing opportunities and the enhancement of basic services where possible.

‘As a City, we are also committed to investigating available parcels of land across our city that could potentially be considered for future human settlements development. Given the demand, the City tries to be as fair as possible in the delivery of services for the more vulnerable people in Cape Town,’ said Mayor Plato.

According to the latest Annual Report (2017/18) some 97,3% of our households that the City supplies have access to electricity, 98,4% have access to refuse removal and 94,3% have access to sanitation.

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