By Nangamso Mabindla
20 October 2005

DESPITE complicated political and socio-economic conditions on the ground, the Duncan Village Redevelopment Initiative will succeed. This is the word of Councillor Luleka Simon, who spoke to a Van Der Leij Foundation annual general meeting in Holland on Tuesday, 18 October.

Launched in February this year in partnership with Dutch companies Van Der Leij Foundation and Bouwfonds Nederlandse Gemeenten, the R250-million redevelopment is aimed at improving the lives of residents in the impoverished township.

It also aims to help ease the city's 75 000 housing backlog.

Simon, who spoke on behalf of Mayor Sindisile Maclean, said the City was honoured to be part of a sharing international development family that had at heart the interests of building a better world for its citizens.

"This family has a sharing based on mutual respect and a common humane understanding, something that we Africans call ubuntu," she said.

Talking about the challenges faced by the redevelopment initiative in Duncan Village, Simon said that despite an expected 6 percent growth during the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup, the country still faced increased urbanisation and poverty.

Duncan Village was regarded as one of the most important inner city urban renewal areas in Buffalo City, which covered 2 500 square kilometres.

"Because it comprises prime land near the city centre and the economic hubs, it is a natural destination in our rapid urbanisation, resulting in what experts tell us is the urbanisation of poverty," she added.

The difficulties faced by the redevelopment were compounded as work had to be done in situ. "This disturbs sub-economies, such as those derived from rentals from backyard shacks. We have to deal with these issues sensitively, while we know the time for promises and patience among our people is running out," Simon said.

However, despite the challenges, the City was committed to the project and the people of Duncan Village.

"The township is a strategic project of major significance to the lives of our people and to the progress of our city, province and country. This project will succeed; this is a pledge we made and a pledge we will keep."