The Western Cape Government has unveiled plans for three new mixed-use affordable housing developments while celebrating the success of its completed Conradie Park project. At an event on Tuesday, Premier Alan Winde and Infrastructure MEC, Tertuis Simmers, outlined the initiative alongside a title deed handover ceremony for financially distressed homeowners.
Simmers revealed construction on the first new development
would begin before year-end, citing Conradie Park as proof of rapid delivery
"We
have seen the lessons that we learned at Conradie Park, that they can
accelerate at a massive pace within the span of months. The Artscape tender is
the next one, which will go out within the next month and a half." he
said.
The R1
billion public-private partnership will replicate Conradie Park's mixed-income
model at new sites, including the contentious Tafelberg property in Sea Point.
At the ceremony, Winde emphasized the importance of
homeownership:
"For
you here today, the title deed is more than a piece of paper. It might be the
key to a brand-new future, to generational wealth." he said.
Tiffany Singh,
Head of Collections at FNB Home Loans, explained the bank's role in the relief
program:
"This
idea was pitched to us shortly after COVID. We wanted to find a way to help
people in distress... We ensured these homeowners got their title deeds, their
properties unencumbered." she said
An emotional
beneficiary described their experience:
"I didn't believe it at first. After everything was done, we believed.
We're grateful for this new lease of hope."
Another
recipient added:
"It's a blessing from God. We can now leave something for our
children."
Addressing ongoing legal challenges regarding the Sea Point
property, Simmers stated:
‘’"The
Tafelberg matter must follow its natural course. We are rallying resources for
that form of funding." he said.
As
construction begins on new developments in coming months, the Western Cape's
housing strategy says it will be measured not only in bricks and mortar, but in
these human stories of renewed hope.
Done by: Jordan
Botha
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