ETHEKWINI Municipality has set aside R8.64 million for a social housing project for the Wentworth community, and the Council has sanctioned the lease of a 2.14-hectare parcel in the area for this development.
This was revealed at the full Council Meeting held in eThekwini yesterday, where officials and councillors discussed development issues affecting eThekwini residents.
This lease, which is temporarily suspended during the planning and construction phases, is designed to meet critical housing demands while ensuring the timely completion of the project.
“The municipality has weighed the asset’s fair market value against the anticipated economic and community benefits that will accrue from its development.
“Should the Social Housing Institution propose converting the designated social housing into commercial use, it must first seek authorisation from the municipality’s head of Human Settlement and the head of Development Planning,” eThekwini Municipality said in a statement.
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These officials will then prepare a detailed report for the eThekwini Municipal council, informing them of any changes to the intended use of the development.
The head of Human Settlement is responsible for maintaining a comprehensive record of any such conversions to ensure that the project remains aligned with its original purpose of providing social housing and is not repurposed by commercial interests.
“Quarterly reports detailing these records will be submitted to the eThekwini Municipal Council to ensure ongoing transparency and oversight,” the statement read.
Early in June, residents living in transit camps in Wentworth demanded answers from the KZN MEC for Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, about the building of flats for the Wentworth community.
In response to the complaints raised by residents, Duma, in his budget speech, said the department was working around the clock to accelerate the provision of housing to communities.
Other Council decisions included the advancement of the development of the Clairwood Logistics Park. The Clairwood Logistics Park Scheme amendment aims to introduce a new zoning category and associated controls within the municipality’s central sub-scheme.
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