The City of Ekurhuleni has appointed a contractor for the Old Brakpan Location Mixed Use Housing Project and phase one of the development is underway.
A site camp has already been established in the veld at the corner of Location Road and Gordon Street.
According to DA councillor for Ward 97 in Brakpan, Brandon Pretorius, the project was approved in the previous term and R80-million has been approved for this financial year.
This phase of the project will be for bulk infrastructure and the expansion of the road.
“I met with the main contractor, Thabang Sekhukhune, from Abram Puno Harvest JV, and the Ekurhuleni MMC for Infrastructure Services, Clr Masele Madihlaba, (who is also the acting MMC for Human Settlements) on site on Friday to discuss exactly what phase one means and the scope of work intended to be completed by the end of this financial year,” said Pretorius.
“It is unfortunate that the community in the area surrounding Location Road has been left in the dark as the MMC for Human Settlements, Clr Lesiba Mpiya, has not once been to Brakpan to come and explain the project nor the implementation plan.
“The information currently received is that this bulk infrastructure will only be installed to the left of Location Road (if travelling towards Hospital Road), the same side where the site is being established.
“The opposite side of the road will be part of a different phase, according to information.”
Also read:Â Brakpan 100: History of old Brakpan Location
Pretorius told the Herald that on Sunday Madihlaba met with the occupants of the informal settlement in the area and explained that many of them will not qualify for housing once houses have been erected as not all will meet the requirements.
They will also not be included simply because they are there.
“He also stated that the housing project will still be a lengthy process and houses won’t be seen soon,” said Pretorius.
“The question still remains as to what the municipality is going to do with the occupants.
“Approved eviction orders still stand and the only delay is the municipality’s instruction.
“It has been made clear that going forward the occupants need to be moved as they will be obstructing the project going forward.
“Structures will also be marked to ensure no more are added.”
Pretorius added that the development looks to house approximately 7 000 families once completed.
“As the Democratic Alliance in Ekurhuleni, we will continue to fight for the rights of all residents within Brakpan,” he said.
“We will also continue to pressure MMC Mpiya to come and hold a public meeting to ensure the community stays as informed as possible.”
The Herald reported in December 2017 that the City of Ekurhuleni confirmed the Brakpan Extension 13 Development was certain to happen.
At the time, Ekurhuleni spokesperson Themba Gadebe stated the development is within the last phase of the township establishment process with the opening of the Township Register and Proclamation thereof programmed for completion by mid-2018.
Asked whether residents can object to the development, Gadebe explained that the objection period has lapsed.
“As with every development that is planned, a public participation process is held by placing advertisements on site and in newspapers,” he said.
“Here the interested and affected parties can comment, raise their concerns or object to the development.
“This process forms part of the initial planning process of every development.”
A quick look through the Herald’s archives revealed the development was advertised in the classifieds section under ‘legal notices’ on May 13, 2015.
Also read:Â Tensions flare over Location Road
As for the people living illegally on the land in the hope that they can lay claim to houses once they have been built, Gadebe explained that the development will be integrated and consist of subsidised houses, bonded houses, etc. and that the acquisition of subsidised houses will be totally dependent on the beneficiary administration process.
He also confirmed that residents from the Plastic City informal settlement will be moved to the area.
“They are part of the beneficiaries according to the migration plan; however, they are subject to the beneficiary administration process that will confirm full subsidy qualifiers and those who can get rental stock or bonded housing,” he added.
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