UPDATE: Leeuwpoort housing project makes progress, beneficiaries to move in soon
The project was initially met with mixed reactions, with some residents in the nearby suburbs raising objections to the plans they believed would negatively impact the value of their properties.
Boksburg’s multi-billion rands Leeuwpoort mega housing development project is making significant progress.
Some of the qualifying beneficiaries are expected to move into their units in approximately two months’ time.
The government’s subsidised housing programme, which will deliver a total yield of 24 000 housing units in Parkdene, Sunward Park and Reiger Park combined, was originally announced by former Ekurhuleni Mayor Mzwandile Masina.
It was marked with a special sod-turning ceremony on February 27, 2017.
The entire fully integrated mixed-income and mixed-use development consists of various phases and has different typologies, including a mixture of fully subsidised RDP units, affordable subsidy rental and mortgage housing units and FLISP development, a retirement village, fully-serviced stands, retail and commercial facilities, a spectrum of community and social facilities, and institutional and municipal facilities.
Responding to the Advertiser’s request for a progress report on the project, metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the project has seen tremendous progress and confirmed on May 19 that 56 of the total 152 units in phase one have been fully completed, while the others are almost completed.
Beneficiaries to move in
It is envisaged that the first qualifying beneficiaries of the fully subsidised RDP walk-up units (residents of the Cinderella hostel) will move into their brand-new homes near Rondebult Road behind the Checkers Hyper at the end of July.
This is, however, dependent on when the approvals from the Housing Subsidy Portal System are received and the occupancy certificate is issued.
Dlamini explained that the residents of the dilapidated hostel were prioritised because their homes will be demolished to make way for the completion of engineering services cutting across the site where the hostel is situated. It will also open the site for the next phase of the housing development.
During the early stages of the project, a group of residents from Cinderella hostel, led by some members of the ANC in Ward 32, marched to the Boksburg civic centre to protest against the planned housing project, as they felt it would leave them homeless.
They demanded the then ward councillor Johan Hendricks takes steps to ensure that the city calls a halt to the housing project in Cinderella, and then come up with a new housing plan that will benefit residents of the area.
They will now be the first group of over 20 000 families set to benefit from this project.
More beneficiaries of this project will come from both Boksburg’s informal and informal settlements and others from surrounding towns within the City of Ekurhuleni.
Money allocated
In his budget speech, MMC for Finance and Economic Development Fanyana Nkosi highlighted that the capital budget to be allocated to the city’s Department of Human Settlements is R582m.
He noted that of the total allocated amount, R25m will be allocated to the Leeuwpoort mega project to be spent on the projects to deliver designs and construction of engineering services for Sunward Park portions of the development, as well as remaining engineering services in Parkdene around the hostel.
These construction works are expected to be completed in the 2023/24 financial year.
Meanwhile, R9.7-m is budgeted for the completion of 259 planned serviced stands in Balmoral Extension Four, and R15.3-m is budgeted for the completion of 144 social housing units in Portion 62 Airport Park Ext.
Delayed
Initially, the Leeuwpoort housing project was meant to be a seven-year initiative starting from 2017, with construction expected to be completed in the 2023/24 financial year. It faced delays due to a number of disruptions.
These included prolonged objections, disagreement between affected and interested parties, disturbances by local civic organisations harbouring expectations from the project, bad weather, the economy and Covid-19 regulations.
Despite all these challenges and other shortcomings faced, the city remains pleased with the progress.
Application for housing
Qualifying residents can apply for the affordable subsidy rental through the Ekurhuleni Housing Company.
Mortgages and bonds will be administered by the Leeuwpoort Development, which is a turnkey developer in partnership with the city.
On the issue of criterion on allocations of RDPs, the Human Settlements Department through the strategy and planning division has developed a migration plan for all projects.
Job opportunities
In addition to the housing opportunities, hundreds of people from the local labour market have been employed.
These include security, bricklaying, plastering and painting. Multiple local contractors and suppliers are being used for the civil works, buildings and other structures, servitudes and roads.
Also Read: Business forum ‘captures’ Leeuwpoort housing development
