Move to relocate Malacca residents
A proposal was made last week at an eThekwini Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee meeting to move the Malacca Road Informal Settlement to the Cornubia Development.
FOLLOWING the years of controversy surrounding the Malacca Road Informal Settlement, it has been proposed that the residents be allocated homes at the Cornubia Integrated Development, local ward councillor, Heinz de Boer, said last week.
The proposal was made in an eThekwini Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee meeting on Tuesday last week.
Located between Mount Edgecombe and KwaMashu, the development hopes to provide more than 20 000 homes to people of disadvantaged backgrounds.
Approximately 750 hectares have been allocated to housing developments, while 80 hectares have been earmarked for industrial development as well as public facilities such as schools, clinics, police stations and post offices.
If approved, the 300 Malacca Road residents will be allocated homes in Phase 1B of the development.
The first phase was completed in September last year, at a cost of nearly R100 million. More than 480 beneficiaries were able to move into their homes in November.
The project has planned to build 2 100 homes, at a cost of R560 million, during Phase 1B.
De Boer said he felt optimistic about the project as it would provide the beneficiaries with a sense of ‘dignity and ownership’.
However, the councillor also pointed out that the development would only make a small dent in the displaced community of South Africa.
“There is currently a massive housing backlog. More than 420 000 homes are needed to eradicate the informal settlements in South Africa,” he said.
Residents call for Malacca Road settlement demolition
