Speech by the Executive Mayor, Alderman Patricia de
Lille, at the hand over of new houses to the beneficiaries
of the Happy Valley Housing Project on 24 January 2013
The Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille,
Mayoral Committee Members,
Councillors,
Members of the Happy Valley Housing Project Steering Committee,
Officials from the City of Cape Town and Provincial Department of Human
Settlements,
Representatives of Asla Construction, GIBB Consultancy and Eskom,
Community members,
Good morning, goeie môre, molweni.
It is a great pleasure to be at this ceremony to hand over keys for new
houses to the beneficiaries of the Happy Valley Housing Project. As part of
our ongoing efforts to build an Inclusive City, we are committed to
building sustainable, integrated human settlements.
This is a complex and demanding task, because we have to deal not only
with the effects of South Africa’s Apartheid legacy but also the challenges
posed by rapid urbanisation.
The latest census results show that Cape Town’s population grew at the
second fastest rate in the country, with close to 30% growth since the
last census was undertaken.
This means we face the reality of an ever increasing demand for housing.
However, we remain determined to ensure that we do all that is possible
to provide housing opportunities to those residents who qualify.
This requires us to come up with innovative ways to provide as many
housing opportunities as practically possible. This is why we are
establishing partnerships with other spheres of government, the private
sector, civil society and beneficiary communities to meet the specific
housing needs of different residents.
This is also why we are taking proactive measures to mitigate the plight
of those on the housing database by providing basic services to
backyarders as they wait for their opportunity to get a house.
The benefits of owning a home are multifaceted. It restores individual
dignity. It provides a stable home for a family. It provides children with a
secure environment to learn and pursue their dreams.
And when title is ultimately transferred to the new owners, it empowers
them to pursue economic opportunities. All of these things provide a solid
foundation for any family to have a stake in the future of our city.
The Happy Valley Housing Project is a good example of the successful
implementation of the Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme
(UISP) which permits the conversion of an informal area into a formal
one.
The land on which these houses were built was previously home to
approximately 1 500 informal structures. Today a total of 1 452 formal
houses have been built at a cost of R185 million for the identified
beneficiaries. Funding for the project was a joint collaboration between
the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Provincial Government.
This is an important illustration of our common goal to build sustainable
communities. This success of this project shows what can be achieved
when all stakeholders share a common vision.
The Project Steering Committee was instrumental in lobbying the
community to support this development. The beneficiaries were proactive
during the fruitful negotiations to temporarily relocate some of them
within the area to allow construction to start without avoidable delays.
I would like to thank them for their co-operation, patience and tolerance
throughout the process because for community projects like this to
succeed, they need the support of the local residents.
These houses are now your homes.
Please take good care of them.
And I hope you will enjoy creating new memories in them.
Thank you. Baie dankie. Enkosi.