A multimillion-rand project run by women’s co-operatives to build more than 2,200 houses in Walmer township has created hundreds of jobs for locals, especially women.
The co-operatives are part of a bigger Umzi WaseGqebera Housing Development Association, which is building the houses, worth nearly R264m.
Human resources graduate Babalwa Rafani, of Komva Co-operative, described the housing project as a life-changer for her and five other members of her co-operative.
“We were unemployed and had no hope of providing for our families, but now I can provide for four of my unemployed family members,” Rafani said.
Rafani’s co-operative is responsible for the assembling and installation of aluminium windows for all the houses.
Another women-led co-operative, Mvisiswano, is responsible for electrification of all the completed houses.
Mvisiswano’s Thobeka Zaze said she had quit her job of assisting community children with their homework to start the co-operative.
“When we started this cooperative, we didn’t know much about electricity, but we now run a well-oiled machine where all our houses are done on time,” she said.
Phase one of the Walmer Enhanced People’s Housing Process consists of 500 units.
“The plan for this financial year is to construct 290 houses.
“We have 10 houses that are practically completed, while 59 are in various stages,” human settlements department spokesperson Phiwokuhle Soga said.
Her department had approved a budget of more than R59.2m for 500 units in respect of top structures, she said.
“The duration of the first phase of the project of 500 units is 22 months, but this financial year (2018/2019) we will build 290 as per the approved business plan.
“So far, 319 sites are fully serviced by the municipality.”
She said the project had five co-ops, creating 32 to 40 jobs a month.
“Of course there is also a plan to add more co-ops and see job creation accelerated.”
The project is driven by the community to improve their living conditions, whereby the beneficiaries make decisions on their houses.
Umzi WaseGqebera Housing Development Association chair Wandile Gxekwa said: “They get to choose what type of houses they want and also decide on the service provider.
“They get accredited training, transfer of skills and certificates so that after the project they can get jobs elsewhere.
“They also get the opportunity to have saving schemes where, if the beneficiaries want a house bigger than 40m² they use their savings to top up.”
Soga said the community was encouraged to manufacture building material on site.
“They get accredited certificates, so their material is SABSapproved.
“Encouragement of material manufacturing will help them to supply other projects in the Nelson Mandela Bay region.”
However, the project has not been without its share of controversy. In 2014, the Nelson Mandela Bay council approved the construction of the houses, a move which was against the council’s own property policy.
In the same year, the council also approved the purchase by human settlements of the 43ha of land, worth more than R40m.
Home owners in the affluent suburb of Walmer Heights threatened to take on the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality – even in court – in their bid to have the municipality shelve its plans to build low-cost housing units, connecting into Walmer Heights from Beethoven Avenue.
The RDP homes will be built just 200m from Beethoven Avenue and luxury estates such as Walmer Heights’ Beau Monte estate.
ANC councillor Ayanda Tyokwana said he was happy with the standard of work being done and the quality of houses being built.
“However, I will be happier if they could speed up the construction of houses.
“We have a huge housing backlog. Now we are having more shacks mushrooming,” Tyokwana said.