![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/112/2014/01/ThumbParksTau_531259624.jpg)
To help in reducing the inner City housing backlog crisis, executive mayor, councillor Parks Tau launched a new integrated mixed housing development in South Hills Johannesburg last week.
The development is targeted at reducing the housing backlog within the inner City and surrounding areas and aims to deliver 5 226 residential housing opportunities.
It further comprises of four typologies of housing consisting of fully subsidised houses (RDP), rental and social housing stock, bonded units and freehold affordable housing over the next five years.
Tau said that the project is about driving transformation and looking at closer integration across the different historic communities, ultimately to the benefit of the residents who reside in these parts of the City.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for housing, councillor Dan Bovu said this development is the first of its kind to be built within 7kms proximity to the Johannesburg CBD.
“This housing development will be inclusive of everyone, cut across every class and every background to bring together communities, breaking the barriers of apartheid that had separated people according to their racial orientation.
“It will also address the City’s goal of re-stitching the City together to create a new future through mixed use development,” Bovu said.
He said that the South Hills Housing Development forms a partnership between the City of Johannesburg, Standard Bank, construction company CALGRO M3 and the community.
Virgil James of the COJ said: “This project will be open to anyone, but the application processes will depend on what kind of house one wants.
“All information will be made available to the public closer to the time of the project starting and we will not be working on any waiting list, but rather on a first come first serve basis.”