IN an effort to decrease informal settlements in Buffalo City, the municipality together with the national and provincial housing departments launched two housing projects on Tuesday 7 April.

The projects include the Proposed Housing Development for Second Creek Settlement and Duncan Village Pilot Housing sites.

The development of the Second Creek Informal Settlement was initiated by migrant labourers who worked at the East London Port Authority Station and other areas including the Westbank Industrial Zone.

Some of these industries down scaled their operations, which resulted in a number of job loses. The former migrant labourers started scavenging from the Second Creek disposal sites.

Currently, Second Creek is facing a variety of socio-economic, health and safety challenges.

Adding to that, municipal spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said that a task team has been put to place to address these issues. The team includes representatives from the national and provincial housing department, the Eastern Cape Premier’s office, ward councillors and other relevant Buffalo City officials.

Tuesday kicked off with the handover of a house to one of the beneficiaries, Mphakamisi Stemele, who formally lived in a shack for 15 years in Reeston.

The mayoral entourage toured the Egoli RDP houses in Vergenoeg to interact with residents.

The Egoli Township Housing project consists of 382 low costs units, which were developed through the Buffalo Flats Development Trust. Completed in 1997, the houses consist of cluster type rooms using government housing subsidies.

During his address at Second Creek Informal Settlement MEC for Housing Thobile Mhlalo said, “The housing department is taking housing development to a higher level, where we will not only look at building houses but also remove the dumpsite which is closer to the shacks.”

He added that it was distressing to see human beings scavenging from the dumpsite. “The project will create jobs and build at least 275 units.”

During the afternoon delegates visited the community of Duncan Village at the Gompo Stadium where they were welcomed with song and stage performances. Well known television stars including Seputla Sebogodi of Generations fame, Zikhona Sodlaka of Tshatsha, Dingaan Mokebe of SABC 2’s Muvhango, Jabulani Nkosi and Jerry Phele of Emzini Wezintsizwa entertained the crowds.

Buffalo City Executive Mayor Zukisa Faku also gave her keynote address in Gompo Stadium, Duncan Village.

She said, “The City is committed to the provision of sustainable human settlements and believe that a roof above one’s head is the most valuable asset for every family.”

The Buffalo City mayor together with the MEC for housing officially launched the Duncan Village Redevelopment Initiative (DVRI). The DVRI is a long-term programme aimed at redeveloping and revitalising Duncan Village under the auspices of Buffalo City Municipality, the provincial and national housing department.

Duncan Village currently accommodates 21 000 households in high densities in a relatively small area and the redevelopment will accommodate at least 5 000 units.

Faku added that the delivery process will not be easy with discouraging factors including unavailability of land and inadequate funds. “Even so, we will make means to give back our communities their dignity.”