Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille says a strong partnership between national, provincial and local government and the private sector will be pivotal for the success of the District Six restoration project
CAPE TOWN — A strong partnership between national, provincial and local government and the private sector will be pivotal for the success of the District Six restoration project, Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille said yesterday.
Earlier this month the public was given the opportunity to comment on the final restoration plan. The multibillion-rand project will result in 5000 homes being constructed and once successful claimants have been allocated homes, the rest of the properties will be made available at affordable rates to buyers.
The plan includes extensive details of the mixed-property development, which will include residential and commercial centres along with offices and public spaces.
Ms de Lille said that after many delays and disagreements, there was now optimism that the project would be successfully completed. "District Six is one of the land settlements which was still outstanding and it is important that there is consensus.
"There seems to be an agreement within the community on how the land should be used. Obviously you cannot please everyone, but there is a general consensus."
Ms de Lille said how the public consultation process was handled showed that a partnership between the national, provincial and local governments together with the private sector was important for the success of the project.
Nas Allie, CE of the District Six Redevelopment and Beneficiary Trust, said yesterday that the public consultation process had been very "successful". "The whole purpose of the consultations was for the public to comment and the general impression was positive."
He said the entire project was significant not only from a justice point of view but also from a business perspective. "This project could be replicated elsewhere in the country and could solve the housing crisis."
He said that the project would be completed in seven years’ time. The development of 42ha of land will cost about R7bn. The City of Cape Town will provide the bulk infrastructure for free and the national government will contribute R1,3bn towards the project. Claimants will also be asked to contribute about R225000 on average towards their homes, valued at R1m. Thus, claimants will be given shares in a special purpose vehicle company that would be set up to run the development.
This option meant that the land would still be in the hands of the claimants and revenue would be generated by leasing some of the land.
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