SUMMARY
Housing Minister, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, briefed the media on the N2 Gateway Project. Also present was Cape Town Executive Mayor, Ms Nomaindia Mfeketo; Chairperson of the Housing Portfolio Committee, Ms Zoe Kota; Director-General of the Housing Unit, Mr Ahmedie Vanda, and MEC for Local Government and Housing, Mr Marius Fransman.
A representative from the Sobambisana Consortium that had won the housing contact, also briefly introduced the consortium. Mr A Vanda gave an overview of the N2 Gateway Business Plan. A Memorandum was signed by the Minister, Mayor and MEC.
Director-General’s briefing
The purpose of the N2 Gateway was to comprehensively address the housing and development needs of communities located in the targeted areas. The public should be housed in habitable, affordable and sustainable housing; the city be improved through urban renewal, regeneration and socio-economic development; and with the institutional capacity necessary to address wider upgrading needs.
The project attempted to build on the initiatives of the government to restore stability to property markets and ensure that its benefits were equitably distributed through the development of alternative housing options (including social housing, hostels upgrading, phased upgrading of old stock) that would trigger broader economic opportunities in the city
The net effect of this project intervention would be to renegotiate the targeting of private sector investment in the city in line with the commitments of the Financial Sector Charter and to remove the disincentives contributing to ‘red-lining’.
The selection of informal settlements had been guided by high-density settlements located centrally within the metropolitan area and with neighborhoods that were highly visible; where income and shelter poverty was acute; where there were poor service levels and where residents lives were under constant threat (fires, disease, crime), subject to flooding, and where significant parts of settled land were unsuitable for habitation. The project also included District Six.
The first key result area would be to ensure that the poverty and vulnerability of residents of the target area was reduced and their level of socio-economic empowerment were enhanced.
Questions
Ms P Essop from the Cape Argus asked how backyard dwellers would be identified.
The Mayor responded that they had identified 30% of the backyard dwellers in surrounding areas and different areas of the N2. However, they were compiling a list to get the correct number of people.
A journalist from Business Day asked how many houses were to be leased and if there would be any option to buy. He also asked where people currently staying in the areas would live during the building process.
Mr Vanda responded that people would be moved to interim settlements. The project would start at ‘Green Fields’ and the people would be moved to the ‘Brown Fields’.
Minister Fransman responded that the houses were for both ownership and rental. The Department would be looking at affordability issues. Mr Vanda added that the rent question was subject to the Constitution. The City Rental Policy would apply.
Ms L Daniels from Cape Talk asked which criteria was used to select beneficiaries.
The Mayor answered that there was a register of the communities, and they were also able to identify beneficiaries through the help of community structures. There would be other developments.
Ms P Green from SABC Radio asked if there was a housing plan for people who had been evicted during apartheid.
The MEC responded that the Department had a policy of integrating society, and this was the reason why District Six had been brought into the project.
A foreign correspondent asked if and when there would be a law dealing with slumlords.
Minister Sisulu responded that this was an issue for Cabinet. She was not sure legislation would resolve the matter, as it needed serious dialogue.
Ms L Crouton asked how the government planned to contain the "political fallout".
Minister Sisulu said there would always be contestation about scarce resources. The N2 and surrounding areas would "play themselves out". She hoped for spi-off effects and said the Department would visit affected areas and communicate with communities.