IN TWEETS: Joburg Mayor Herman Mashaba launches two affordable housing facilities in the inner city
JOBURG – Two affordable housing units were given to the people of Johannesburg today in hopes of turning the inner city around.
Herman Mashaba has said the City of Johannesburg is committed to turning the inner-city into a construction site, in order for the City to alleviate their housing backlog.
A statement released by the office of the executive mayor, Herman Mashaba, said that the two housing projects, which have a combined cost of over R96 million, will contribute to the inner-city revitalisation initiative through the conversion of a number of dilapidated buildings into habitable mixed-sized residential units.
“Social housing is for our poor residents. Without a doubt, the City cannot build houses for the wealthy when our poor people don’t have basic housing facilities,” said Mashaba.
The City tweeted the following of the launch:
#JoburgHousing Mayor @HermanMashaba: To everyone that took part in this project. When I see things like this I'm encouraged and inspired to do more ^GZ pic.twitter.com/JrWmX3YVpx
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) March 5, 2019
“Albert Street consists of ‘one-bedroom’, ‘studio’ and ‘communal room’ type units, totaling 83 residential units. It also has features such as a courtyard, drying yards, children’s play area and a braai area,” further read the statement
It is my pleasure to officially open this facility for our residents.- @HermanMashaba #JoburgHousing #BuildingNewJozi ^PS pic.twitter.com/DOVgBOgkO4
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) March 5, 2019
Fraser House will be used as transitional housing and will offer temporary housing for the homeless and some working homeless who earn an insufficient income to afford long-term housing. This model is set up to assist residents to transition into permanent, affordable housing. The occupants will share communal bathrooms and kitchen on each floor, according to the statement.
Fraser House temporary accomodation. #JoburgHousing #BuildingNewJozi ^PS pic.twitter.com/D2sP5o2lKG
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) March 5, 2019
“Our City faces a mammoth task of clearing the current housing backlog of over 300 000 units, and as I have said on numerous occasions now, this administration is fully committed to turning the inner-city into a construction site in order for us to deliver sufficient and affordable quality accommodation to all our residents,” said Mashaba.
We're sitting on a housing backlog of over 300 000 units, and we need to work on delivering housing for our people quicker. Hundreds more buildings have been identified by council for redevelopment, to allow us to offer quality social housing #JoburgHousing pic.twitter.com/EJXhR5G7X3
— Herman Mashaba (@HermanMashaba) March 5, 2019
“These three projects were awarded to two developers; EGC Properties and Johannesburg Housing Company, respectively. They formed part of the 84 inner-city buildings earmarked for development, as was announced last year. Many more buildings have been identified for redevelopment and will be announced in the near future,” read the statement.
We have to make sure that we provide affordable and satisfactory accomodation like this project, which our people are really proud to call home. #JoburgHousing #BuildingNewJozi ^PS pic.twitter.com/L7DSU36acg
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) March 5, 2019
The City of Johannesburg stated that the need for an Inclusionary Housing Framework was identified in the City’s Spatial Development Framework 2040 (SDF 2040) adopted by Council in 2016. Specifically, it identified the need to facilitate and guide the provision of inclusionary housing by the private sector in private housing developments.
“The SDF 2040 highlights the issue of the housing and job mismatch in the City with a large portion of the population in the city concentrated in areas of limited or no employment opportunity. It further advocates for densification in areas of favourable employment which in turn happen to be the areas the City has invested heavily in,” read the statement.
The adoption of the Inclusionary Housing Framework affirms the commitment of the multi-party government to building an inclusive society that provides meaningful redress through pro-poor development, said the statement.
Related article:
Mayor Herman Mashaba to launch two affordable housing projects
