By Nangamso Mabindla
4 February 2005

BUFFALO City has launched a R250-million redevelopment project in Duncan Village aimed at improving the lives of the impoverished township's residents.

The housing project, in partnership with Dutch companies Van Der Leij Foundation and Bouwfonds Nederlandse Gemeenten, is expected to be completed within 10 years, and will help ease Buffalo City's 75 000 housing backlog.

"We want our people to regain their dignity, which was taken from them by the apartheid government," said Buffalo City mayor Sindisile Maclean during the official launch of the project on Friday, 4 January.

"This kind of living is not acceptable," he added.

Duncan Village currently comprises a combination of neighbourhoods composed of a variety of living environments ranging from middle-income to the densely populated shacks in C-section.

"This area remains physically marginalised from the urban economy," added Maclean.

A total of 75 percent of the 100 000 residents in Duncan Village do not have an income. But that is about to change as the redevelopment project breathes new life into the area.

Director of development planning, Craig Sam, said the project would be community-based and create jobs for the township's residents. "At this stage we're not sure how many jobs will be created but there will be jobs on offer," he said.

Chairman of the Van Der Leij Foundation, Rob Van Der Leij, said the foundation was committed to assisting the City in delivering services. "We aim to provide support to the improvement of social and economical position of people who are involuntarily living in situations of poverty and deprivation," said Van Der Leij.

We are trying to do our bit in improving people's lives through such projects, he added.

Following the formalities, the mayor and Van Der Leij cut a ribbon. A sod turning ceremony was then held.