Khayalethu Bungalows Housing Project shows steady progress
Media Release by Tertuis Simmers, Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure
Today, Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers, handed over Breaking New Ground (BNG) housing units to the first beneficiaries of the Khayalethu Bungalows Housing Project in Knysna.
Originally, a parcel of land developed with pine timber bungalows was donated to the Knysna Municipality by a private company prior to 1994 and later transferred to qualifying South African occupants in 2000. These structures have, however, fallen into disrepair, prompting an intergovernmental site visit, led by the National Department of Human Settlements.
Subsequently, the Western Cape Government appointed the Housing Development Agency (HDA) to perform a detailed assessment of the bungalows, which resulted in the urgent replacement of the timber bungalows with new BNG units.
The project is set to deliver over 124 BNG housing opportunities comprising of:
- 79 privately owned properties that will be administered under the Emergency Housing Programme (EHP),
- 45 properties, owned by the Knysna Municipality, that will be administered under the Integrated Residential Development Programme (IRDP) and be dependent on subsidy approvals for these 45 beneficiaries.
This R24,3 million project is set to be completed by August 2025 and will be implemented in three phases.
Phase one comprises of the demolition of the first 14 priority bungalows and the erection of the first 14 Temporary Residential Units (TRUs) through the HDA, which is financed by the National Emergency Fund. Phase 1 will further include the construction of 14 new BNG units through the Knysna Municipality.
In the second phase, an additional 14 TRUs will be erected, while 14 existing TRUs from phase one will be reused. This will allow for the demolition of the remaining 65 bungalows, which will then be replaced with new BNG homes alongside stormwater infrastructure to improve the living conditions of the residents in the area.
The third and final phase will see the re-use of the 28 existing TRUs, the demolition of 45 bungalows, and the construction of 45 new BNG houses.
Minister Simmers said, “the Khayalethu Bungalows Housing Project demonstrates how national and provincial governments, in cooperation with the HDA, can work together to deliver to those communities who are most in need of housing opportunities. This R24,3 million project will deliver over 124 BNG housing units and is set to be completed by August next year.”
Audio
Media enquiries:
Melt Botes
Spokesperson for Provincial Minister Tertuis Simmers
Tel: 021 483 8067
Cell: 082 431 0068
Email: Melchior.Botes@westerncape.gov.za
Jandré Bakker
Head of Communication
Department of Infrastructure
Email: Jandre.Bakker@westerncape.gov.za
