CAPE TOWN: The Department of Human Settlements will embark on its biggest intervention yet to supply low-cost housing by managing a R4.6 billion project in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu made the announcement during Thursday’s post-Cabinet briefing in Parliament. Ms Sisulu said the money would be spent during the three-year medium-term expenditure framework period, but the project would take four years to complete.
She said Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality mayor Benson Fihla had approached her just after her appointment after last year’s national elections, asking for help to solve the metro’s housing crisis. “There is a huge influx of people into Port Elizabeth and the municipality is totally unable to cope,” she said. The project will entail the construction of 6,000 houses in Port Elizabeth’s Bethelsdorp, another 7,000 in Kayamandi, 2,200 in Walmer and 491 houses in Chatty.
