The Nelson Mandela Bay municipality is considering the use of abandoned schools and derelict buildings in townships for social housing as part of the Njoli Square precinct.
This is a new addition to the more than 15-year-old Njoli Square precinct development.
The initial plan was to create a civic facilities centre and public transport interchange which would positively affect Kwazakhele and the Khulani corridor.
But Metro plan Town Planners’ Ndaba Ndzombane on Friday revealed additions to the plan that could see hundreds of people having access to affordable housing.
Ndzombane was one of two consultants, appointed in May last year, who were tasked with putting together precinct plans for the metro.
Town planners from Aurecon, Harry van der Berg and Carlu van Wyk, also presented a plan for the Jachtvlakte/Chatty precinct.
The Njoli Square project, which includes a massive road upgrade to accommodate the Integrated Public Transport System (IPTS), will see the construction of a Njoli precinct to include space for informal traders, medical suites, a library, a civic centre and a shopping centre.
The revamp was initiated by the municipality in 2003 as one of its Vision 2020 projects. The national Treasury committed R121m towards the R285m development.
Should the council adopt the precinct plan, the city would be a step closer to finally making the project a reality.
Presenting to the human settlements portfolio committee on Friday, Ndzombane said the idea was to have commercial businesses located at the entrance of the township.
He said this would “blur” the gap between townships and the CBD.
Ndzombane said they would like to see the “backyard” parts near Njoli upgraded as well and not have people relocated. This would be possible through densification.
“With public transport coming, this is going to be an attractive place to live in so you must be able attract to more families,” Ndzombane said.
He said they wanted to include duplexes and possibly triple-storey buildings, along with student accommodation.
Ndzombane said they were targeting the abandoned schools in the area to pursue this part of the plan.
“There are quite a number of schools that are derelict and available in the area. In the province there are about 300 schools that are closed and that creates a lot of opportunity.
“With the schools that are closed we could create between 200 and 400 social housing units or rental units. It is just a question of how far we are willing to go to go beyond this plan,” Ndzombane said.
He said that two deed searches on who owned some of the properties in the area had not yielded the desired outcome.
Ndzomane said there was no information on who the owners were.
Meanwhile, the plan includes the possibility of overnight accommodation and about six storeys of office space to be situated behind the Njoli taxi rank.
“This is land that is already owned by the council and we believe that it will be a catalyst,” he said.
The ambitious plan received mixed reviews from councillors in the committee.
DA councillor Nqaba Bhanga said he was not in agreement with abandoned schools being turned into social housing.
“The idea of integrating business in the entrance of township makes sense. We have seen what this has done to Sheya Kulati and Kenako.
“But I am shocked by the intention to occupy the derelict schools.
“I believe that schools in the township are still going to be some of the best in the country but they are closed because learners have flocked to the northern areas,” Bhanga said.
He said this suggestion had broken his heart.
“Where are our children going to go to school? I am very worried that housing is taking priority over education,” he said.
ANC councillor Sizwe Jodwana said he worried that Ndzombane had not yet secured the buy-in of the taxi industry.
Committee chair Andile Mfunda urged the councillors to ensure the project was not delayed.
“We need to change the face of the city. We are appealing to all departments to play their role. This is a megaproject and it must be quick,” Mfunda said.