Housing is right on track in Ekurhuleni, says Masina

1. It keeps amazing me how people got their houses in our region. I had been on the housing waiting list from 1996 and even now it seems there is nothing for us.

I have heard about a development just behind Checkers Hyper Boksburg, but it seems only coloured people will go there. I stay at Ramaphosa Road Reserve, Reiger Park Ext 5, in Boksburg. Kgatabila Mampa

Mayor Masina: Historically, housing has been a provincial responsibility and this had certain constraints for the municipality. Fortunately, the new administration has committed to ensuring that we minimise squatter camps in the region.

We, as a city, are also working to upgrade the spatial profile of the informal settlements that house about 164 000 households. We will give to the people all municipal land that was classified as “illegally occupied” by people in informal settlements.

Working together with the provincial and national governments, as well as private developers, we are embarking on six mega housing projects over the next year to respond to the housing and human settlement needs of our people.

In pursuit of this objective, we have secured and are in the process of securing more land to enable us to provide bulk services for housing settlements like Leeuwpoort, Clayville Ext 15, John Dube and Daggafontein.

In the current financial year, the city will deliver approximately 5 000 housing units and in the next financial year (2017-18) the city will deliver an additional 8 000 housing units. All these households are in line with plans of the city for reallocation of community members who are currently in squatter camps and, of course, those who can’t afford housing as they don’t qualify with banks.

2. A question in three parts from Dr Dennis J Mkhulisi:

a) Recently, you announced in the media the availability of billions of rands for SMME support (especially black youth). Which office should one go to in order to access these funds?

Mayor Masina: The city has resolved to allocate R12 billion of procurement opportunities to local entrepreneurs, service providers and enterprises over the MTREF.

Of this, an allocation of R3.5 billion has been made available in the 2017-18 financial year. This includes, among others: R1 billion (per annum) on 2 000 youth owned enterprises; R500 million (per annum) on 100 emerging construction companies; and R500 million for black industrialists; R500 million for community trade in service; R112 million for community based planning.

Please contact the economic development department, headed by MMC Nkosiphindile Xhakaza, or the Youth Unit Directorate.

b) There are pockets of disused land and vandalised buildings in Ekurhuleni whose owners (state and private) are not easily accessible, even from the Deeds Office. Where should one go to make an unsolicited offer for such property for light industrial and/or affordable housing?

Mayor Masina: The town planning division has been working tirelessly to audit such buildings as we work towards an integrated city.

Through a concerted programme of urban regeneration, we will regenerate our nine towns, 17 townships and scores of industrial areas by encouraging the refurbishment and improvement of buildings.

In addition, we have a Bad Buildings Programme through which we identify dilapidated buildings which pose health and/or structural safety hazards.

Such buildings will have to undergo rehabilitation/repairs, and those that are certified irreparable will be demolished, upon obtaining relevant court orders.

We will expropriate all abandoned buildings and all buildings that owe the city huge amounts in rates that even exceeds the market value of such properties. Please contact our town planning division.

c) Since 1999, I have not seen new large industries coming up in the Springs area. However, the turnaround time for site development plans (SDP) in Springs can take up to 10 years (proof available).

Can SDP assessment and approval in Springs be sped up? Why should SPD assessments take longer than a month in areas where services like electricity, water and sewerage already exist and need no new infrastructure investment?

Mayor Masina: One of the priorities of the city is to reduce red tape, which hinders business development. Springs is definitely an integral part of the plans. The economic development department, together with town planning, have prioritised approvals of assessment for the next financial year.

NEXT WEEK: Herman Mashaba, mayor of Joburg, responds to your questions.