1 000 homes for hand-over

2008-11-23 21:26

Johannesburg - Minister of Housing Lindiwe Sisulu will on Thursday hand over 1 000 N2 Gateway homes for the second consecutive month in Delft, the Western Cape housing department said.

"The total number of free homes given away by the government since 1994 is rapidly approaching R2.7m. 1 000 homes (were) handed over in Delft last month and another 1 000 homes (were) handed over in Port Elizabeth last week," the department said in a statement on Sunday.

Families are already settled in 2 400 free homes, foundations have been laid for a further 1 600 free homes, and the first 100 of more than 1 000 affordable bonded homes are ready for occupation, it said.

"The homes are allocated to beneficiaries in accordance with the N2 Gateway allocations policy - 70% to former shack-dwellers and 30% to former backyard-dwellers."

Most of the beneficiaries were former residents of Joe Slovo informal settlement who voluntarily relocated to Delft to create space for the construction of formal housing in Joe Slovo.

Western Cape housing MEC Whitey Jacobs said plans to build 1 500 free homes in Joe Slovo - similar to those developed in Delft - were on hold.

"(This is) pending an appeal by some of the remaining residents of the informal settlement against a court order that they relocate to give developers access to the land," he said.

Jacobs said in the context of a city with a 400 000 home backlog, it was critical for citizens to support government delivery and accept the opportunities offered them.

However, he said not everyone living in informal settlement qualifies for a free home, adding that free homes were provided only to families earning less than R3 500 a month who have applied for the subsidy.

Jacobs said those who do not qualify for free homes will be offered opportunities to rent or buy affordably.

- SAPA