By Nangamso Mabindla
18 April 2006

INNER city renewal took centre stage when Buffalo City Executive Mayor Zintle Peter officially opened the newly refurbished Skyview complex in the East London suburb of Southernwood.

Previously known as St Georges Court or Skyways, the building is an East London landmark. It was refurbished at a cost of R21-million, following a 2003 report to the City council that the 14-storey block was in an unsatisfactory condition.

Own Haven Housing Association, a social housing organisation, was appointed by Buffalo City to carry out the development and return the complex to its former glory.

Speaking at the opening on 13 April, Peter said the municipality truly appreciated the partnership project as it meant a lot, not only in providing housing stock, but in promoting housing equity and deracialising Buffalo City.

"I want to pledge here today that the City stands ready to embrace innovative housing partnership initiatives. I also pledge to try to fast track the processes wherever I can while being mindful of the fact that housing protocols are hard to circumvent."

With private-public partnerships like the one the City had with Own Haven Housing Association, the municipality would be able to ease the 75 000 housing backlog.

"We are committed to private-public partnerships of this nature as the solution to densify housing and prevent urban sprawl with all its attendant costs," Peter said.

The City also had partnerships with countries with expertise in social housing, like the Netherlands, and the Dutch minister of housing, Sybilla Dekker, was at the opening. She said she was happy that her country was part of urban renewal in Buffalo City.

"We are happy to have played a part in promoting social housing here in the city. We hope that with partnerships like these we can ease the housing backlog."

Dekker commended the partners for turning the complex into an up-market and safe building for its tenants. The opening was also attended by the province's MEC of housing and local government, Sam Kwelita.