Today, 6 April 2022, the City of Cape Town welcomes the start of a new R500 million mega housing project which is expected to deliver State-subsidised housing opportunities to more than 3 000 qualifying beneficiaries and their families.
The City’s new ACSA Symphony Way housing project will see the development of 3 200 State-subsidised Breaking New Ground (BNG) units. As per the signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA, 2015) between ACSA and the City, the target area for this housing project will be Blikkiesdorp, Malawi Camp and Freedom Farm.
The land where Blikkiesdorp is located will eventually be incorporated into the Cape Town International Airport precinct. As a result, Blikkiesdorp will not exist in the future as all of those who are legitimately residing there will have to be relocated once it is decommissioned. Blikkiesdorp has provided shelter to those facing a housing emergency for as long as their emergency continued. Many residents of Blikkiesdrop have been moved into subsidy housing over the years when an opportunity has come up in various housing projects.
e City’s Human Settlements Directorate has identified two sites along Symphony Way which will be developed for BNG housing to enable the relocation of Blikkiesdorp residents. Given the scale of the development, this process will take a few years to be fully completed. Construction of internal civil services will commence today, 6 April 2022, and construction of the top structures will begin thereafter.
The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Malusi Booi, and other dignitaries attended the sod turning ceremony.
'Today we celebrate as we begin work on this important project. We thank the team of people who are involved for their hard work and dedication in helping us provide opportunities to these beneficiaries, some who are the most vulnerable in the metro. We also thank the community and beneficiaries for the support as our projects can’t progress well without their cooperation.
‘Over the coming months, we will continue to make progress here and I look forward to visiting again. This is another example of the City’s delivery in action of opportunities on well-located suitable pieces of land. The City remains committed to building an inclusive city, unlocking opportunities and enabling redress,’ said Councillor Booi.
Beneficiaries of this project will be selected in accordance with the City's Housing Allocation Policy and Housing Needs Register to ensure housing opportunities are made available in a fair and transparent manner that prevents queue jumping and to those who qualify for housing as per the South African legislation.
Source: City Of Cape Town