Human Settlements Launched R380 Million Social Housing In Goodwood, Cape Town

The Minister of Human Settlements NomaIndiya Mfeketo and Provincial Minister Bonginkosi Madikizela today launched a multi-million rand social housing project in Goodwood with a sod-turning ceremony.

The Goodwood Station Social Housing Development project, worth R380 million, is a collaborative effort between the national and provincial Departments of Human Settlements, the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA), the City of Cape Town as well as Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA). DCI Community Housing Services’ (DCI CHS) has been tasked with packaging and development of this project. It will provide much-needed housing opportunities for previously disadvantaged low-income earners in Goodwood, Ruyterwacht and surrounding areas.

The Goodwood units will cater for people earning between R1500 and R15 000 per month on short to long rental options to be administered in line with the Social Housing Programme guidelines and procedures. The development will consist of six-storey apartment blocks on both sides of the railway line and offer units ranging from a bachelor’s flat to two-bedroom flats.

Speaking at the event, Minister Madikizela said the kind of partnership the government together with private partners has resulted in the success of housing developments like the Goodwood Social Housing project.

“The success of any project depends on a strong partnership between all spheres of government and the people on the ground. This not the first nor the last social housing project in the Western Cape. A lot has been said about the inner-city development and what is being done about it. Just along this railway line we have a massive project that was launched a few weeks ago. It is called the Better Living Model. We will be applying to SHRA for 600 rental units on the first phase. We also have a number of inner-city developments not far from Goodwood and other is in Woodstock,” said Minister Madikizela.

He added: “There is a culture of entitlement on social housing developments. We all know social housing is purely for rental and cannot be owned. But we have seen across the city and in many other areas that there are opportunists who want to turn social housing into ownership. We need to speak with one voice as government and if we don’t do that, this particular programme will be in jeopardy. Social Housing Institutions will not partner with us if we don’t want to clamp down on this challenge.”

Minister Madikizela said the provincial department strongly believes there is a need for rental accommodation as there is a huge demand for only rental accommodation across the country.

Minister Mfeketo said she was honoured to be part of this event where a project represents a partnership between the different arms of the public sector and the private sector. “Social housing projects not only affords fellow South Africans accommodation but also present an opportunity to address the unique needs that arise from the dynamic nature of modern urbanisation,” said Minister Mfeketo.

She added: “A crucial aspect of this project is its contribution towards changing the spatial paradigm.  The project is an initiative designed to densify human settlements development near a Transit Oriented commercial development of 5135m² as well as near a major public transport node.  Both the six-story densification and mixed typology facilitates the integration of families with mixed incomes.  This gives residents easy access to employment opportunities in the retail precinct or other opportunities across the city,” said Minister Mfeketo.

SHRA Deputy Chairperson, Nambitha Ntshangwana said the entity is required to deliver 27 000 social housing units within the MTSF ending 31 March 2019. “Days such as these are truly a milestone achievement worth celebrating. The Western Cape Province has delivered 1129 social housing units against an MTSF target of 4108. The 1 055 units that are going to be built here are going to bring us closer to achieving our target and integrating targeted beneficiaries to the local communities, amenities and workplaces,” said Ntshangwana.

The project will be constructed in two phases and will yield more than 1055 rental housing opportunities. Phase one of the project will yield 317 units and is expected to be completed in October 2020.