The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Tandeka Gqada, formed part of the City delegation that visited refurbished Council Rental Units in Heideveld, Manenberg, Hanover Park and Ottery today.
This programme was launched as part of the City’s commitment to creating dignified living environments for our residents. More than 5 000 Council Rental Units have already been upgraded as part of this programme.
“We have listened to and engaged with the community and have inspected various homes. Whilst there are visibly great successes and many satisfied tenants, there is also room for improvement as this is a pilot project. We will hold contractors to account to ensure that work of the highest standard is delivered. Where we have received complaints on the quality of the workmanship, we will endeavour to rectify the situation,” said Councillor Gqada.
The City of Cape Town is the biggest landlord in South Africa, with the highest number of rental properties being in our city.
“It was encouraging to see how this programme has brought communities together. Communities are taking responsibility and they are proud,” said Councillor Gqada.
In 2008, the City identified 7 775 rental units in 11 areas across Cape Town for upgrades and refurbishment as part of the pilot project that forms part of the National Government’s CRU programme. Many of these units had been poorly maintained and the state of these living environments was contributing to serious social ills such as gangsterism, drug abuse, crime, and a lack of community pride and spirit.
The CRU upgrade deals with all aspects of the unit, including plumbing, electrical installations, security and safety, fittings, structure, paint work, and furnishings. Work includes, amongst others, general renovation of the building; installation of new ceilings, floor coverings, light fittings, cupboards, geysers; electrical rewiring; and improved refuse management.
The scope of this major housing rental refurbishment project includes not only a comprehensive review and upgrade of each unit, but an enhancement of the living space surrounding the rental housing through various interventions, such as the establishment of recreational facilities; tree-planting; and the provision of fencing, parking areas, and area lighting.
Last year, the City’s CRU project received the award for the most outstanding civil engineering achievement in the community-based projects category by the South African Institute of Civil Engineering.
“This administration is committed to redress and this project is an important part of the City’s plan to provide quality living environments for our residents,” said Councillor Gqada.
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