Pretoria – The development of the Zandspruit informal settlement will see more than 7 000 residents get access to proper services and social amenities.
The City of Johannesburg has approved the development of Zandspruit into a formal human settlement. Over 7 000 brick-and-mortar housing units are set to be built in the area.
This emerged at the City of Johannesburg’s monthly council meeting, where the council approved a report compiled by Member of the Mayoral Committee for Development Planning, Rosslyn Greeff, on the future of the area.
Located in the northwest of Johannesburg with an estimated 15 000 shacks, Zandspruit informal settlement is among a number of informal settlements recently visited by the city’s Mayoral Committee during the Bua Le Sechaba campaign.
The campaign is an initiative aimed at assessing the delivery of services in various informal settlements so corrective measures can be implemented.
A total of 7 068 housing units to be developed in the area will be divided into 1 068 rental units; 1 050 finance-linked but subsidised housing units and 4 950 RDP houses.
Greeff said funding for the housing component development will be made available by the Gauteng Provincial Government.
Welcoming the council’s decision, Ward 114 Councillor Maureen Schneemann said the development of Zandspruit will bring hope to the informal settlement’s residents and open doors that had been closed.
“I welcome this report on behalf of families in Zandspruit... this step we are taking today indicates the city’s commitment to improving the lives of our people. So many people in Zandspruit have lived in the city but have been excluded from benefiting from better living conditions and opportunities,” said Schneemann. – SAnews.gov.za
