Today, 24 October 2019, marked a new beginning for 34 first-time homeowners who received the keys to their new State-subsidised houses in Greenville Garden City Phase 2 at Fisantekraal near Durbanville. The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements Councillor Malusi Booi and Garden Cities Group Chief Executive Officer Mr John Matthews were on site to congratulate some of the new homeowners.

Today, 34 first-time homeowners received their new State-subsidised Breaking New Ground (BNG) houses in the R93 million Greenville Garden City Phase 2 Housing Development in Fisantekraal near Durbanville.

Greenville, which is a partnership between the City of Cape Town’s Human Settlements Directorate, the Western Cape Government and developer Garden Cities, aims to deliver approximately 6 000 BNG housing opportunities over six phases.

To date, 868 beneficiaries of State funding have already received their houses in Phase 1, which cost approximately R153 million. Currently more than 84% of the new residents have received their houses in Phase 2 which is under way.

‘It is always an honour to be part of handing over houses to our beneficiaries, who have been waiting patiently for their own homes. We wish them and their families all the best in their new homes. We trust that these homes will not only provide them with a roof over their heads, but also provide them with the security and assurance they need to know that this property belongs to them. These homes are also a financial asset to our beneficiaries and so we encourage them to look after their properties and protect them for their loved ones,’ said Councillor Booi.

The City and the WCG are funding the infrastructure and houses and have also provided planning, design and implementation input, standards, specification and approvals for the development. Garden Cities has undertaken the development, including the installation of bulk and internal services as well as being responsible for the construction of the houses.

Phase 2 of this development aims to deliver 507 State-subsidised Breaking New Ground homes.

Construction of Phase 2 will be completed by approximately March next year. Once Phase 2 is complete, the construction on Phase 3 will begin. The installation of services for Phase 3 is already under way.

Congratulating the new owners, Garden Cities Group CEO, Mr John Matthews, said that Greenville, having been conceived as an integrated settlement, would be to the benefit of the wider community. It will also include bonded housing for first-time buyers and middle-income homeowners as part of the entire town planning strategy.

‘Garden Cities understands the desperate need to house people who are on the City’s Housing Demand Database, who live in informal settlements or are backyarders as well as the requirement for affordable rental accommodation and Gap housing opportunities. For that reason, the early stages of the development concentrates on the provision of housing for lower income residents, being those with the greatest need,’ said Mr Matthews. Overall, Greenville forms part of a greater catalytic housing development which will eventually boast approximately 6 000 BNG housing opportunities, social housing, and financed-linked houses. It also includes plans for schools, community facilities, public spaces and transport infrastructure.

‘We want to thank all partners and roleplayers, including the community, for their ongoing support throughout the various phases of this BNG housing development. We are looking forward to welcoming more beneficiaries home as their houses are completed and ready for hand over,’ said Councillor Booi.

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Photograph 1: Beneficiary Nomthetheleli Ndamane with the City’s Mayco Member for Human Settlements Councillor Malusi Booi.

Photograph 2: From left, John Matthews Garden Cities Group CEO, Thembi Sithole from Garden Cities with Asiphe Mateyisi (the beneficiary’s daughter), Councillor Kyle Carls, Mayco Member for Human Settlements Councillor Malusi Booi, Councillor Chumani Khobeni and beneficiary Fikiswa Mnyazana.

Photograph 3: Beneficiary Khuzabantu Siyila with the City’s Mayco Member for Human Settlements Councillor Malusi Booi.

Source: City Of Cape Town