Media statement - Joy, hope, and excitement as two multimillion informal housing projects are officiated in KwaDukuza



The landscape of KwaDukuza to change forever as government builds 1446 new houses in Nyathikazi and Mgigimbe.

As democracy turns thirty years, life is surely improving for people from more than 1400 households who are currently housed in shacks and mud homes along the north of KwaZulu-Natal.

Thanks to the MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works in the province, Sipho Nkosi who worked well with the mayor of KwaDukuza, Lindile Nhaca to finally give birth to two multi-million housing projects in Nyathikazi and Mgigimbe that are valued just over 150 million.

The Nyathikazi Informal Settlement Upgrade Project
The Nyathikazi Informal Settlement Upgrade Project in Ward 03 will yield a total of 912 sites to the value of R58 million. The Department of Human Settlements has approved Stage three of the project to build an additional 300 units. Already, 495 sites have been built under Stage Two. The project will cover bulk and internal services. Approximately 128 job opportunities will be created for the local community.

The Mgigimbe Informal Settlement Upgrade Project
The Mgigimbe Informal Settlement Upgrade Project is located in Ward 09 and it is to yield 534 units. The project is valued at R99.5 million. The MEC for Human Settlements granted an approval of this project in January 2024 and a contract for construction was signed in February 2024. The scope of work comprises of roads, storm water and water reticulation. The construction of top structures will follow levels of service that have been approved by the Nation Human Settlements Department. The construction process will create approximately 150 jobs for local people, and the first phases are expected to be completed in just two years.



A strong sense of optimism filled the air on Sunday, 26 May 2024, as both projects were launched with many locals expressing their excitement over the commitment by government.

In her opening remarks, KwaDukuza Mayor Lindile Nhaca described the Nyathikazi launch as historic - saying that "life will never be the same for the local residents." 
“We are overjoyed as the people of KwaDukuza, now that the two housing projects are launched. I have been consistently engaging the MEC to unlock these projects and others that were blocked, and we know that rumors were being spread that these projects would never see the light of day. Today, along with MEC “KK” Nkosi, we have shown that we are a government that fulfils its promises. Our communities are excited, and we are appreciating the multiple interventions by MEC K.K. Nkosi", said Nhaca.

Nhaca poured cold water over the notion that acceleration of these housing projects were part of electioneering. “That is simply not true. We were always going to launch these projects. Service delivery is driven by government. You don’t press pause on service delivery just because it is the election season. Service delivery will continue regardless of the season, we won’t be distracted.”

Speaking during the launch, MEC Nkosi said, “We will be building a total of 912 houses here at Nyathikazi, we have already spent R34 million on the installation of bulk services. We have already appointed the main contractor who is a young woman. We are very pleased that women are being given the opportunity.”

MEC Nkosi said after learning of certain administrative challenges that had stalled the housing project at Mgigimbe, he decided to intervene urgently. “The Mgigimbe project had come to a standstill for a while. When we were made aware of this, we were able to intervene and clear those bottlenecks. We then came and installed bulk services, which cost R27 million. Now that the Mgigimbe project has been launched, we will be building 534 houses, which will cost about R100 million. We are moving with great speed, and focusing primarily on rural areas, where people who were in charge in the past did not do much to bring development.”

Nkosi urged the people of KwaZulu-Natal to vote “wisely” on Wednesday (29 May 2024), and vote for “continued development.” He paid tribute to the liberation struggle stalwarts who had infused a culture of helping black people reclaim their dignity, which now manifested itself through various impactful service delivery initiatives by government, particularly within Human Settlements. “We are thankful to Nelson Mandela for giving us the mandate to build houses for people, even on tribal land. We are also grateful to Inkosi Albert Luthuli, who drafted the Freedom Charter, which calls for united and non-racial South Africa. In this regard we extend our appreciation to Inkosi Mthembu of the Mthembu Tradition Council for welcoming this massive project in Nyathikazi which is a traditional community. The Freedom Charter calls for a preventive health scheme shall be run by the state. It calls for free medical care and hospitalization, which must be provided for all, with special care for mothers and young children. It also says slums shall be demolished, and new suburbs built where all have transport, roads, lighting, playing fields, crèches and social centers; and that the aged, the orphans, the disabled, and the sick shall be cared for by the state. Our government has done a lot to realize those ideas, and will continue working hard to do so", said Nkosi.

Ends

Issued by the Office of the mayor of KwaDukuza Municipality
Enquiries: Sphe Ngobese | 0737847822 | sphelelon@kwadukuza.gov.za

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