By Nangamso Mabindla
23 November 2004

DESPITE several challenges, including rapid urbanisation, Buffalo City's housing delivery is on track, according to the City's director of Development Planning, Craig Sam.

Sam told a delegation from the Western Cape on Friday, 19 November the City was pleased with its progress.

The Western Cape team, led by MEC for Local Government and Housing, Marius Fransman, was visiting the City to learn more about how it had dealt with its housing challenges.

In response to the challenges posed by population movements and unemployment - among other factors - Buffalo City created a Spatial Development Framework, which was included in its Integrated Development Plan.

"We wanted to find ways to make our houses high quality, but still retain affordability. We have a high unemployment rate and we need to build affordable houses for our people," Sam said.

The City also has a housing subsidy programme aimed at helping households that earn less than R3 500 a month. Through this programme, called the People's Housing Process, the municipality assists people to purchase houses.

Housing projects - including the R40-million Nompumelelo project in Beacon Bay and the R90-million development project in Reeston - are being run across Buffalo City. Over 1200 families will benefit from the Nompumelelo project, which is expected to be completed early next year, while a further 4 000 units will be built in Reeston.

Other projects are also underway in Amalinda and Ilitha in King William's Town.

The City also supported emerging contractors and women contractors, Sam told the delegation. "We want to be very inclusive when we carry out these projects. We don't only want to provide shelter, but also create employment for our emerging entrepreneurs".

Following the presentation the MEC and his team were taken to a number of housing projects in Buffalo City.

Commending the work being done, Fransman said other cities could learn a lot from Buffalo City, "especially on the People's Housing Process. It's really impressive how the City has managed to make it a success, while also creating a lot of jobs for locals. I'm happy we came here. We are hoping to use the lessons learnt for our own housing projects in the Western Cape."