Department of Housing MMC Meshack Wyk said he recently took oversight visit at Zandspruit electrification project, after decades of the site being neglected, which left the community with poor access to quality services.
Wyk said in March 2019, the City of Johannesburg launched the beginning of a new development of 701 residential sites in Zandspruit. He added that this was the first housing department magnitudes.
“The project sets out over three phases and is expected to harvest up to 2400 walk-up units upon full completion. In managing alternative accommodation as development progresses, department of Housing has identified erf RE47/191 (Part of Zandspruit Extension 33), to be used as an alternative site where a total of 24 structures will be built and completed by 15 August 2019”, he said.
Wyk added that the family structures will cater for 13 families that have encroached on a newly built road and 10 structures, which will accommodate 10 families. He said the families were identified from transit camp.
“There has been an extensive consultation with community members through public and street committee meetings through my office in a bid to ensure that we engage meaningfully. Furthermore, we have submitted consent forms on the 17July 2019 to families that have encroached. It is important to indicate that despite challenges, the process of electrification has posed”, he added.
Wyk said they have written an indemnity letter to Eskom on the 1 August 2019, supporting the project in order to create space for existing services and the new infrastructure. This includes families that have settled in the area.
“Community of Zandspruit has been actively involved in the project and have shown a high degree of ownership over the project by finding practical solutions to issues of encroachment that were hindering progress. The contractor is currently on the site to build structures therefore to accommodate families who need to be relocated to an alternative site”, he said.
Wyk added that the level of commitment exemplified by community members is encouraging and will certainly fast-track the development. He said they would like to applaud the community for supporting the process of ensuring that people have access to electricity and will truly improve their quality of life.
