The Joburg City Council has confirmed that more than 100 000 residents are set to benefit through housing developments after the council finally approved major housing developments in the City of Joburg (COJ).

This was confirmed by the city through its communications spokesperson, Nthatisi Modingoane, on Monday.

Modingoane said he would like to extend his appreciation to the Council for its support on three crucial projects that will benefit more than 100 000 people through key developments across the city.

The latest developments comes as there has been invasions of key relocation sites across the city and after some 2 000 residents were displaced by a blaze at the Jeppestown building three weeks ago.

Earlier this year after reports of hijacked buildings and fire ravaged residential buildings, it was revealed that the city was facing an unprecedented housing shortage, with 400 000 families on a waiting list that spans decades.

The city’s inability to provide low-income housing has forced tens of thousands of residents into the more than 600 so-called hijacked buildings that populate the city’s once-thriving down town.

“The council has approved an agreement concerning land in Alexandra, which will benefit 2 500 land claimants, representing about 55 000 households. This agreement marks a collaborative effort between various spheres of government towards the development of Alexandra,” Modingoane said.

According to the city, the process leading up to this approval has been lengthy and involved extensive engagements with the claimants, before culminating in the signing of a significant statement of intent which affirmed commitment to the agreement.

Modingoane said the people of Alexandra will be among those set to benefit mostly from the new agreement.

“With the council’s approval, the interdict that has hindered the development of Alexandra will now be lifted. In 2005, the Land Claims Court issued an interdict against the mayor of Joburg and the city itself, preventing the demolition, development, or rezoning of parts of Alexandra that were subject to land claims.

“The land claim effectively restricted various levels of government from developing Alexandra township until the issue was resolved. During the council meeting held on 19 September 2024, a report on the Gauteng Central Integrated Mega City was adopted. This project will deliver 81 000 housing units,” Modingoane said.

The city has revealed that more than 99.9% of the project will be divided between Breaking New Ground (previously known as RDP), with 33.3% allocated to social housing and another 33.3% to the Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (Flisp).

“Flisp is a government subsidy designed to assist low to middle-income households in accessing adequate housing.

“Households eligible for this subsidy are those in the ‘gap market’ – families who do not qualify for a fully subsidised house but also cannot secure a mortgage loan from banks. This applies to families earning between R3 501 and R22 000 a month,” the city said.

The agreement is set to be one of the biggest development projects in the city and will result in the development of the Gauteng Central Integrated Mega City after the council adopted a report on the Central Park Social Housing Precinct, which will yield 3 800 units for people in the gap market.

The Star

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