Development stained by race allegations

CONCERNS have been raised by the Democratic Alliance (DA) surrounding the allocation guidelines of The Cornubia Integrated Development outside of Mount Edgecombe.

uMhlanga ward councillor, Heinz de Boer, alleges that during the eThekwini Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee meeting, held in the beginning of March, it was suggested that only one per cent of ‘minority groups’ (Indian, coloured and white) would be allocated houses during Phase 1B of the 750-hectare development.

According to De Boer, the DA has rejected the allocation guideline outlined at the meeting, saying, “The allocation guideline put before the committee does not speak of fairness and equality, with a mere one per cent of houses being allocated to minority groups.

Being an integrated development, Cornubia should seek to build social cohesion and unity among citizens; instead it continues to be a vote-winning tool for the ruling party.”

The councillor added that corruption and political interference regarding the housing developments would impede the city from tackling the housing backlog and eradicating the informal settlements in Durban.

More than 420 000 houses are needed to erase Durban’s informal settlements, said De Boer.

“The allocations should not be based on race, but rather on those who are most deserving,” he said.

eThekwini Head of Communications, Tozi Mthethwa, has denied the allegations. “Cornubia Phase 1B targets the impoverished, and the primary focus area is the eradication of informal settlements and transit camps, with beneficiaries of all races within these settlements being considered for allocation. Service delivery is rolled out to all residents in eThekwini, regardless of race.

“The R25 billion Cornubia project aims to promote the integration of different communities as well as foster social cohesion,” he said.

Mthethwa stressed that the allocation guidelines have not been approved and would be debated in the executive committee and council meetings.

It has been estimated that 20 000 homes will be built on the 750 hectares of land. More than 480 beneficiaries were able to move into their homes in November, after the the first phase was completed in September, at a cost of R100 million.

The project has planned to build 2 100 homes at a cost of R560 million during Phase 1B.

Approximately 80 hectares have been earmarked for industrial development, as well as public facilities such as schools, clinics, police stations and post offices.