Thousands of Khayelitsha shack-dwellers given new homes

By Jurina Nkwazi
03 November 2010

About 7 600 shack-dwellers who had formerly occupied land needed for the Khayelitsha rail extension project in the Enkanini informal settlement has been given news homes.

The project which started in 2005 will now see shack-dwellers moving to their own serviced sites Zwelitsha.

It took the R40m project five years to complete. The 29 hectares of barren, sandy land has been converted into 1 526 formal sites.

The urgent relocation of shack-dwellers is necessary to make way for the extension of the Khayelitsha rail line.

Head of Engineering Services for Informal Settlement Johan Gerber said, “Due to the urgent need to relocate the families, a consultant and contractor were appointed during phase one to provide basic services on the new site such as gravel roads, overland storm water systems, and communal taps and toilets.”

“The extremely sandy area and prevailing windy conditions presented certain challenges but we managed to stabilise the area using straw bedding techniques,” he said.

“During phase two, basic services were upgraded to full services. This included water reticulation with fire hydrants, full sewage reticulation, underground storm water, tarred roads, and high mast lighting,

“Each site now has its own enclosed toilet with wash trough and tap," says Gerber.

he added, “Eskom is 108m looking at installing individual pre-paid electricity meters with ready-boards early next year,

“A total of 60 local labourers and seven local subcontractors benefitted from the R2,2m local component of the second phase, which required the contractor to provide them with skills training.”