Building Gauteng on multiple fronts

The Gauteng department of human settlements plans to empower small local entrepreneurs and create jobs for local communities via its ambitious Mega Projects housing development initiative.

Human settlements MEC Paul Mashatile said housing developers would be required to secure building materials from local suppliers and to employ residents in the area.

Briefing the media about his department’s budget vote in the legislature yesterday, he said that of the R6 billion budget allocated to the department, the bulk would go to capital projects, including building houses. A large portion would go to his pet project, Mega Cities.

The private sector would be involved via public-private partnerships.

“We will not only make Gauteng a huge construction site, we will boost the local economy and create jobs,” he added.

Gauteng is leading the country with its integrated housing approach in which bonded, RDP, social housing, rental units and light industries are combined in one location.

Mega Cities were already in place in areas such as Fleurhof, Roodepoort, Clayville and Riverside. Each project contained between 10 000 and 15 000 units.

The largest Mega Project, known as Dube Mega City, will be built on the East Rand and it will have at least 15 000 units and a university.

Thirty-one Mega Projects were at an advanced stage of development and 12 had a business plan for implementation.

A total of 54 projects were earmarked to be built in the first phase.

“Between now and 2019, we want to build not less than 15 000 units per year in Gauteng.

“We will introduce alternative building technology to help us to move faster,” Mashatile said.

The department would support municipalites’ bulk infrastructure projects to ensure the success of human settlement Mega Projects.

The MEC also announced a plan to turn hostels into family homes. – ericn@citizen.co.za