Three aged and special needs beneficiaries are over the moon today because they have received homes after having waited patiently for many years for this opportunity.

Mr and Mrs Salmon and Anna Brandt were on the Housing Database for 20 years. Mr and Mrs Phillip and Catharina Fluks stayed in Beverley Hills informal settlement area and were registered on the Housing Database for 16 years. Ms Maria Niemand from Dark City informal settlement area was on the Housing Database for 14 years.

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Malusi Booi handed over three of these units to beneficiaries with the oldest one being 70 years old. More than 200 opportunities (both structures and serviced-sites only) are still to be developed and handed over to the rightful beneficiaries.

‘This project shows that often times the development of human settlement opportunities are characterised by sheer determination and dogged persistence from many City officials especially in our Human Settlements Directorate, community leaders and political structures to ensure that the work gets done and that the most vulnerable residents in our society are catered for. This has been a tremendously challenging project and it has been marred by attempted illegal occupations, vandalism and extreme community dynamics.

‘The underlying work has always been driven by the desire to improve the lives of these beneficiaries; to bring a sense of redress and delivery to these vulnerable people and to carry on carrying on despite the challenges. I commend all stakeholders who have been involved.

‘The threats of invasion and vandalism are real and continues and on behalf of the City administration, I urge the broader community, the beneficiaries and various community and political leadership structures to support the City and to work with us to ensure that the units are not vandalised or illegally occupied. We really can do this if we all stand together,’ said Councillor Booi.