City of uMhlathuze tackles RDP housing backlog
So far, 536 homes have been built in the village in the past three years
WITH only four RDP homes built in the Dumisani Makhaye Village last year, the uMhlathuze Municipality has committed to add another 11 houses to the settlement before the end of this year.
This is to meet the target of 547 RDP homes on the plot just outside Empangeni.
The development, previously known as uMhlathuze Village, has rapidly grown in the past three years – from no homes in 2013 to 536 houses last year.
The city’s Development Portfolio Committee stated in a recent report to the council’s Executive Committee that the objective of the settlement has been to promote the achievement of a non-racial, integrated society by improving the community’s standard of living and providing housing for vulnerable groups.
Early in 2010, the uMhlathuze Municipality and other municipalities within KZN were identified as high capacity municipalities with a huge demand for rental and gap market housing.
During the period 2011 to 2012, the municipality, together with the Department of Human Settlements (DoHS), identified the existing portions of land within the village as a strategic location to implement and cater for the high demand of units.
The western side was earmarked for low income housing, while the area on the eastern side overlooking Empangeni, was planned for affordable housing.
More than 550 properties are ready to be conveyanced, including those that have not yet been finalised.
Title deeds transfers have become one of the national and provincial Cabinets’ top priorities.
But the KZN Province has fallen well behind schedule, with a backlog of 127 479 post-1994 housing stock, of which 1 394 comes from the King Cetshwayo District.
‘Targets have been determined for each province and the KZN DoHS have to report quarterly to the National Steering Committee chaired by the National DoHS,’ said the committee.
‘Municipalities are therefore requested to report monthly on the properties transferred.’
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.
For news straight to your phone invite us:
WhatsApp – 072 069 4169
Instagram – zululand_observer
