Cape Town - Plans to create 8 000 housing opportunities in the airport precinct have taken off again after years of delays blamed on intimidation and extortion by criminal syndicates.
Infrastructure MEC Tertuis Simmers said he met with community leaders and councillors of ward 40 to discuss the earmarked development that would include beneficiaries from other wards within the City of Cape Town.
The meeting focused on the airport precinct informal settlements' main site, which consists of the areas of Kanana, Vukuzenzele, Barcelona, Europe, the Airport infills and New Rest.
“The relocation and development plan are structured for the relocation of 3 000 households to iThemba and Welmoed sites respectively; a phased approach which will include, but not be limited to, the development of Kanana and Barcelona informal settlements,” Simmers said in a statement.
He confirmed that construction at the Luyolo and Tambo infill projects would recommence before the end of the 2024/25 financial year.
“This follows disruptions in construction due to intimidation, and criminal and extortion-related incidents at the sites which resulted in multiple construction workers being victims of shooting incidents in 2022,” Simmers said.
“This project will yield 481 housing opportunities for beneficiaries sourced from Gxagxa, Luyolo, New Rest, Lusaka infills, and qualifying backyard dwellers from the neighbouring Gugulethu and Manenberg communities. The installation of bulk services at the Airport infills is 90% completed.”
Ward 40 councillor Bongan Ngcombolo said the project had experienced many delays. The project that the government is referring to started in 2016 with its numeration guide, and it's been more than five years without any progress,” he said.
Simmers said an update was provided on the legal matter relating to small-scale farmers who had unlawfully occupied a section of Welmoed Estate, which is land earmarked for one of the development’s relocation sites.
“The unlawful occupation of the land has hindered the next phase of the relocation plan for the qualifying beneficiaries.
“The partnership between the provincial and local governments is a critical step forward in accelerating delivery and ensuring that every beneficiary receives the home they deserve. We call on our communities to stand with us as active partners in this journey.”
Cape Argus