By Nangamso Mabindla
10 July 2006

BUFFALO City's Mdantsane Urban Renewal Project will use the R130-million it received from the European Union to speed up some of the projects aimed at changing the face of the township

Speaking after the donation had been made, the project's manager Riana Pretorious said that the City would use the money to bring electricity to the township, to improve roads, amenities, water and other important areas. Other projects included housing, health, corporate services, transport planning and amenities.

"We aim to spend over R5-million on electricity and further R7-million on improving the roads in the area. We also aim to spend over R200 000 on corporate services through the planned community support centre in Mdantsane," said Pretorious

The City would spend over R18-million on water supplies, and R5-million on housing to help combat the City's 75 000 backlog.

The money would also be used to:

• improve development of the local economy
• make human settlement more habitable
• improve social development
• improve public participation
• improve strategy, programming, project implementation and service delivery
• improve municipal Institution, financial management, audit, procurement project management and integrated planning

Turning her attention to the community support centre, Pretorious said the main aim was to bring local government closer to the people. "This is funded by the Swedish International Development Agency and will be located in the Mdantsane library complex; people will be able to interact with municipal officials and make their concerns heard," she added.

Some of the money would be spent on signs and numbering, and an information, communication and technology centre. "This sector is important for developing countries because it is a critical ingredient for growth. Many enterprises in Mdantsane are unable to reach their full potential, as they lack access to current and correct information," said Pretorious

Other projects that aim to bring employment to Mdantsane include the department of environmental affairs and tourism-funded urban greening project. "One of our objectives with this project is the creation of an urban greening and gardening work in Mdantsane. We also aim to support activities of environmental protection," added Pretorious