Durban:The Maphephetheni Phase 3 Rural Housing Project in KwaZulu-Natal is projected to provide decent homes to 2,286 families by 2028 as the government intensifies efforts to enhance living conditions in rural communities.
According to South African Government News Agency, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane, KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma, and eThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba will hand over housing units to qualifying beneficiaries at Maphephetheni, north of Durban, today.
Close to R7 million has been allocated to the project for the 2026/27 financial year. The Department of Human Settlements has reaffirmed its commitment to restoring dignity in rural communities, with efforts including the eradication of mud houses. The government has set a target of eradicating nearly 7,000 mud houses across the country.
The Maphephetheni handover comes ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa's visit to KwaZulu-Natal for the Cornubia Integrated Human Settlements Project Milestone Celebration in eThekwini, scheduled for Thursday, 29 October 2026. This celebration will emphasize the progress in developing integrated human settlements that provide dignified housing, enhance access to economic opportunities and essential services, and address spatial inequalities rooted in apartheid-era planning, aligning with the priorities outlined in the President’s 2026 State of the Nation Address.
The Cornubia project is expected to deliver 12,593 housing units through various programs, including fully subsidized Breaking New Ground (BNG) housing, First Home Finance for the "missing middle," and social housing. Since its launch over a decade ago, the development has provided nearly 3,000 fully subsidized housing units and includes supporting social infrastructure such as a school, retail outlets, and recreational facilities.
President Ramaphosa will also visit Montclaire Lodge, the first government-owned Temporary Emergency Accommodation facility, which offers temporary shelter to individuals displaced by disasters. He will be joined by Human Settlements Minister, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli, KZN Transport and Human Settlements MEC, and the eThekwini Mayor.
The milestone celebration highlights the importance of continued collaboration among national, provincial, and local governments in accelerating housing delivery, strengthening communities, and ensuring that more South Africans have access to dignified living conditions.
