Since the launch of Extension 22, 850 houses have been built. Residents from Tsakane and KwaThema informal settlements assumed they would be getting houses in the new development.
Nxumalo states that the city is busy with a mega housing project that will see 17 850 houses built around Ekurhuleni.
Of those 17 850 house, 850 have been built in Ext 22, which is just the first phase of the project.
“There are six phases of the project and in the next three to five years we anticipate that all the set RDP houses will be completed,” says Nxumalo.
The second phase will resume soon where 1 165 houses will be built in Ext 22 to extend the houses there.
Nxumalo explains that Ext 22 was built for residents of Eden Park, whose houses were illegally invaded five years ago.
“According to the PIE Amendment Act that stipulates that when evicting a person who is illegally occupying land, there should be alternative housing given to them.
“We then agreed with other MMC’s and the MEC of Human Settlement that we would build an RDP project in Tsakane where those people would get housing,” he explains.
Of the 850 houses that were set to accommodate Eden Park residents, only about 523 residents came forth as some had died and others blatantly refused to be moved to Tsakane.
A total number of 30 residents from Ext 10 in Tsakane were also housed at Ext 22 as they were also reallocated from Germiston a decade ago.
“Of the 30 residents, a mix of senior citizens and child-headed families, were given preference when moving residents from Ext 10,” says Nxumalo.
He further says that the remaining vacant houses will be occupied by residents from KwaThema Extension 3 and Geluksdal Ext 3.
“People from those two areas also have been waiting for their houses since 1996.
“The beneficiary administration process takes a while to do – beneficiary profile on one person takes one day,” he says.
A mass meeting is planned for February 27, where residents will be told about the current state of housing and what the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality is planning to accommodate residents who have been waiting for years for their RDP houses.
