PROJECT UPDATES
residing at Malawi Camp and Freedom Farm has been
received from the City of Cape Town.
DELFT 7-9 AND 601 – see lead article
BOYSTOWN
N2 Gateway Community Newsletter
MARCH 2012
The N2 Gateway Project started in 2005 and phase one is nearing completion. It is a project of the National Department of
Human Settlements. Phase one will deliver about 15 000 houses. The project provides houses for residents of the informal
settlements and backyarders along the N2. Current projects include the following: Joe Slovo • Delft Symphony • Delft 7-9
• Boystown • Temporary Relocation Areas (TRAs)
JOE SLOVO
Farewell to Delft 7-9 and 601
• Phase 1 services and bulk infrastructure as well as top
structure construction are well underway. Disposal of waste
materials has also been completed for this Phase.
• Surveys for Phases 2 and 3 have been completed.
• Upgrading of Klipfontein Road has been completed and
approval has been granted for the upgrading of the Philippi
TRA.
• The development of Eskom bulk infrastructure has commenced.
• An agreement has been concluded between the Provincial
Department of Human Settlements (PDHS) and the City of
Cape Town (CoCT) to provide additional security.
DELFT SYMPHONY
• In Precincts 1 and 2, 1047 units have been handed over to
approved beneficiaries (including backyard dwellers) while
in Precincts 4 and 6 the last units have been allocated.
• Encouragingly, the handover of units in Precincts 1 and 2 is
currently two months ahead of schedule and the structural
quality of the units has also improved.
• There are still some 408 infill units to be built and the layout
for these is awaiting approval from the City of Cape Town.
• The final verified allocations list for approved beneficiaries
Work in the Delft 7-9 and 601 communities is coming to an
end. The HDA’s role has been that of project manager on
behalf of the Western Cape Province and now that the houses
have been built and the community is functioning well,
responsibility for services and day-to-day issues is being passed
The long-term success of Delft 7-9 and 601 will depend not
only on the City of Cape Town but also on the efforts of the
residents to engage with and work effectively with the
municipality and other public authorities. A resident’s committee
should be established which must truly represent the needs
of the residents. Such a committee must build its own capacity
so it can work effectively to further develop the community.
to the City of Cape Town and, just as importantly, to the
community itself.
• A total 474 houses are currently under construction and
foundations have been laid for all of them. The first units are
due for completion in late March 2012.
• Some 418 households have been relocated to the TRA 5 to date
to enable the road construction. While the process had been
delayed due to disputes around the relocation programme,
an agreement between the contractor and the Zone 32
community has been finalised.
• Construction of Winnie Mandela Drive was briefly halted due to
a community dispute but has recommenced. Work on the Blue
Gum Extension has progressed very well without any stoppages.
A Message from Western Cape
MEC for Human Settlements:
Hon. Bonginkosi Madikizela
I am proud of the progress
in the N2 Gateway housing
development. The N2
Gateway was initiated in
2005 due to catastrophic
fires in the Joe Slovo
informal settlement, which
USEFUL NUMBERS
displaced around 2 500
people. Over time, the
Fire emergencies: 021 480 7700 (from cell phone)
development grew to
Fire Department (general information): 021 590 1900.
In Delft 7-9 a total of 3 991 units were completed and all of
Emergencies (when life or property is threatened): Call from
them are occupied. This figure was extremely close to the
cell phone: 112
Housing Development Agency (HDA) Helpdesk: 021 481 2900
All City of Cape Town matters (waste, water & sewerage,
target of 3 992 units with only one not being completed because
of a municipal manhole. However, in Delft 601 a total of 580
complaints, etc): 0860 103 089
of the proposed 601 units will have been built by the end of the
All Western Cape Provincial Government (general queries):
project. This was due to Eskom regulations which say there
0860 142 142
has to be a three-meter space in-between the houses and the
Childline: (help when a child is in danger) 0800 55 555 /021
cable lines to ensure safety. The outstanding 21 units are still
762 8198
Eskom customer care: 0860 037 566
Public transport information: 0800 656 463
Anti-land invasion: 0800 225 669
to be resolved.
include Boys Town, Delft
Symphony 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7, 9, Joe Slovo Park, Joe
Slovo Phase 3, and
accommodation at TRA 5. A further 600 houses to be built next
to Symphony school have just been approved.
The Department has delivered 10 166 housing opportunities,
and when completed around mid-2013, the N2 Gateway will
have delivered a total of around 22 300 housing opportunities.
We have overcome many challenges, including the high
over to the survivor/s. However, in some cases, beneficiaries
Recreation, as well as the Sub Council Manager and ward
Between 25 to 50 beneficiaries are invited to the session. While
standard of services which the City has demanded, along with
have illegally “sold” their homes or are renting them out.
councillors, have also been very helpful in providing advice
the material is usually presented in English there is always
and services where necessary. A total of 83 local people are
an interpreter at hand to ensure that everyone understands
the answers to questions they may pose.
an excess number of beneficiaries for the available housing
opportunities. We have unblocked all our projects and overcome
In instances where the occupant is found to NOT be the rightful
employed on the project at any one time and, to date, some
difficulties involving contractors failing to deliver or going
beneficiary, he / she will be evicted and the house given to an
99 have been given paid work. One very positive outcome is
bankrupt, community conflict and corruption. As of writing,
eligible approved beneficiary on the waiting list. In the
that 13 people previously employed on the greening project
The session addresses the following issues (among others):
all the projects have either been completed, or are under
intervening time the ownership of the house will not revert to
now have permanent jobs with a landscaping company.
• All of the major roles and responsibilities of home ownership
construction.
the original beneficiary, but to the Provincial Department of
• The significance of service contracts (e.g. water & sewerage,
Human Settlements. It is crucial to remember that beneficiaries
etc.) and the consequences of breach of contract
The Department has three strategic objectives. First, the
can only sell their homes 8 years after they take possession,
accelerated delivery of housing, and by mid-2013, 22 300
and even then must have a proper legal sales agreement
owner died, his / her survivors will inherit the house without
houses will have been delivered. Second, the development of
certified by a qualified lawyer.
a legal fight
• The benefits of taking out a will to ensure that, when the
rights and responsibilities, and we are committed that people
get their title deeds as soon as possible. Third, to ensure the
most efficient use of resources, and many of the houses in
Joe Slovo are being built with solar water heaters. Joe Slovo
is also a high density development, which further maximises
the use of land, a very valuable resource, thereby giving more
• How to develop a household budget based on income and
expenditure
Greening Delft 7-9: Building an
attractive and healthy
community while creating jobs
• The importance of insurance coverage
• The eight-year restriction on selling the property (“preemptive right”) and the negative consequences of illegal
sale
people proximity to transport, health, education and economic
• The three-month guarantee on maintenance-related
Residents of Delft 7-9 will have noticed in recent months that
opportunities.
problems
their community is being transformed through the planting of
I am also happy that we are rewriting the beneficiary selection
many trees and shrubs. In an effort to improve the physical
Similar to taking on a new job, homeownership requires the
criteria, to make sure that the people who most need or deserve
environment at Delft and, at the same time, to provide work
consumer to be adequately prepared and well-informed. The
houses, such as the disabled or the elderly, are prioritised.
opportunities and develop skills, a company called DevSA has
The greening project is already making a difference in people’s
consumer education session offered to N2 Gateway
Soon there will be a standardised procedure for choosing
trained and employed local people to plant trees and shrubs
lives. DevSA is currently providing training to 12 people in
beneficiaries sets new owners on the path to successful home
beneficiaries from the housing demand list, which will be
in seven nodes around the community.
horticulture, to 14 people in crop growing, and providing a
ownership.
applied across all communities.
painting course to 17 of its employees. DevSA is also planning
to engage with Shoprite FreshMart and also Fruit & Veg City
I wish all the residents of the N2 Gateway happiness in your
to help secure jobs for the participants once they have
homes, and encourage you to care for it so it increases in
completed their courses.
value. And to those who are waiting patiently for homes, your
time will also come.
The greening project needs support from the Delft 7-9
community if it is to continue to deliver these critical
environmental and job benefits. While there has not been much
Title deeds and illegal sales
vandalism, a number of the cages built around the new trees
to protect them have been stolen. Community members must
Although all units in Delft 7-9 and 601
be vigilant to prevent this and must work closely with DevSA
are occupied, a resident’s ownership
to ensure the success of the greening project.
of their house and security of
tenure is only assured if they
have their title deed. More than
460 residents have not yet
signed the deeds of sale to their
properties. This may cause
significant problems in the future as
As of late February, more than 300 trees and many shrubs
have been planted in these nodes. Trees and shrubs not only
make the community look nicer but they help prevent erosion
and keep sand from blowing from one area to another.
they may not be able to prove that they are the rightful owner.
Consumer education for new
homeowners
First time homeownership brings with it many opportunities
and responsibilities and it is important to be as well-informed
and well-prepared as possible. Before moving into their new
In a few of these cases the beneficiary has passed away and
DevSA is working with the Provincial Department of
the estates need to be settled before the title deed is handed
Environmental Affairs and also the Expanded Public Works
Programme on the greening project. City Parks, Sport and
homes, all N2 Gateway beneficiaries are offered some basic
housing consumer education to help them take maximum
advantage of the benefits and to avoid the common pitfalls.