Human Settlements
- What are the details of the steering committee members of the Kosovo Housing Project in Philippi, (b) what is the total number of housing units of this specific project, (c) how many of these units will be allocated to beneficiaries from Kosovo and (d) how many units will be allocated to beneficiaries from Mitchells Plain?
(40)
Kosovo is a 21 year old, 22ha, densely populated informal settlement situated in Philippi, consisting of approximately 6000 informal structures. It has been identified as one of the informal settlement upgrading projects as part of the Southern Corridor Integrated Human Settlements Program. Due to the sites high densities, alternative land was required to decant people and de-densify to provide open spaces for construction.
To this extent, the property Farm 694, which is an uninhabited site owned by my Department, was identified for the purpose of moving Kosovo beneficiaries into houses and in turn clearing space for construction on the Kosovo site. The Farm 694 property/project is situated in New Woodland, Mitchells Plain and initially intended to benefit the beneficiaries of the Kosovo informal settlement only.
This decision was not accepted by the community of New Woodlands who raised the issue of the large number of New Woodlands backyarders who have not benefitted from housing opportunities in the area for many years. After almost 2 years of negotiations between my Department, the Kosovo community and the New Woodlands community, it was agreed that the opportunities at the Farm 694 project be shared equally (50%/50%) between the respective communities.
The Kosovo: Farm 694 project steering committee consists of members of the Kosovo community as well as members of the New Woodlands community. They also serve as representatives for the Kosovo main site project.
The members are as follows:
Kosovo:
- Cebisile Bathathu
- Andile Dlali (CLO)
- Chumisa Tompson
- Zolisa Bili
- Khimish Chizelana
- Noxolo Gqesha
- Mayford Nombembe
- Zodwa Pokolo
- Ziyanda Jali
- Nkosinathi Mkhuhlan
New Woodlands:
- Shahiem van Nelson
- Sharief Chowglay (CLO)
- Gerald Daniels
- Priscilla Daniels
- Fatima Davids
- Farieda Jacobs
Note: Mr Andile Dlali (kosovo) and Mr Sharief Chowglay (New Woodlands) have since chosen to resign as members of the PSC to pursue roles as Community Liaison Officer’s (CLO) for their respective areas. Ms Nosibongile Dube who was part of the original Kosovo committee, subsequently passed away.
(b) 434
Kosovo Main site project is currently in planning stages and aims to deliver approximately 6000 housing opportunities.
(c) 217 Kosovo
(d) 217 New Woodlands
