Pretoria-Housing development projects for mining communities in Bokone-Bophirima are well underway and are to be completed in due course, says North West provincial government.
The revitalisation of these towns is part of the Social Accord which was signed for by President Jacob Zuma in October 2012 as a commitment to accelerate efforts to upgrade human settlements in mining towns and improving the living and working conditions of mineworkers.
The targeted areas in Bokone Bophirima amongst others include Matlosana and Rustenburg local municipalities. Among the areas set to benefit in Rustenburg local municipalities include the housing project which is to change the face of Marikana Extension 2 area by building 292 houses and 252 communal residential units.
Phase one of this project, according to the province, is already underway and is scheduled to be completed in December 2015. Internal services such as bulk water, sewer and electricity have been completed, the Department of Local Government and Human Settlements spokesperson Ben Bole said on Saturday. “The housing development is taking place in the 50 hectors of land donated by Lonmin with 860 serviced sites. “
More houses for Marikana
Bole said in its totality, Marikana housing project is to yield 2600 units. The units will be spread amongst the four housing programmes namely Breaking New Ground, Community Residential Units, Social Housing and Financially Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP) in order to develop an integrated and sustainable settlement whilst addressing the housing backlog in the greater Marikana area. In the Matlosana region, several housing projects intended to decrease the housing backlog and house struggling mine workers is also underway.
One such is the Khuma township extension 6 near Stilfontein in the Matlosana Municipality which will restore the dignity of the mining hostel dwellers.The project according to Bole is to start in due course and will provide hostel dwellers with decent family units.
“The R54million project will see the demolition of the hostels and the erection of the High Rise Breaking New Ground to house 154 families. The action will fulfil a call made by Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa for residents to be provided with proper shelter,” he said. Another 500 Units project in Khuma extension 10, which is built at the cost of R55 million is to be completed in December 2015.
A R40 million worth of 100 Community Residential Units project next to N12 road in Klerksdorp, Meiring's Park has been completed and is awaiting installation of internal services such as water, sewer and electricity before being handed over to the beneficiaries. –SAnews.gov.za
