The Urban Renewal Programme (URP) is part of a national Urban Renewal Strategy, announced by President Thabo Mbeki in his State of the Nation Address in February 2001. The URP, which focuses on areas of greatest deprivation, includes investment in economic and social infrastructure, human resource development, enterprise development, the enhancement of the development capacity of local government, poverty alleviation and the strengthening of the criminal justice system. The national Urban Renewal Strategy is co-ordinated and monitored by the National Department of Provincial and Local Government.

In the Western Cape, Khayelitsha and Mitchell’s Plain were identified as urban renewal focus areas. Because both are located within the municipal boundaries of the City of Cape Town, the Urban Renewal Strategy is implemented and monitored by the City’s Urban Renewal Programme Department. Ministers Charles Nqakula and Trevor Manuel are URP National political champions deployed in Khayelitsha and Mitchell’s Plain.

Premier Ebrahim Rasool is the provincial political champion, and the Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Helen Zille, is the local political champion. The overall objectives of the URP are to enable systematic and sustained interventions to alleviate poverty and significantly address under-development and socio-economic exclusion in Khayelitsha and Mitchell’s Plain.

The URP’s specific objectives are to:

* Promote local economic development to relieve poverty and unemployment.
* Provide a safe and secure environment by fighting crime.
* Support education, training and skills development.
* Create a quality urban environment where people can live with dignity and pride.
* Develop efficient, integrated and user-friendly transport systems.
* Create job opportunities through the Extended Public Works Programme.

For more detailed information about the URP, such as the Business Plan, the URP Spatial Development Framework or the Environmental Management Framework, please visit the section called strategic documents and reports.

Swartklip Regional Sports Facility

Mitchell's Plain - Swartklip multi-purpose sports complexThis development of an Integrated Regional Sports Facility at the corner of wartklip and Spine Roads in Tafelsig ensures accessibility for both the Mitchell’s Plain and Khayelitsha communities. The facility will serve as a practice venue for the 2010 Soccer World Cup and aims to promote sport within the Urban Renewal Programme as one of the measures to uplift communities, especially vulnerable groups such as the youth.

http://web.capetown.gov.za/WCMS/images/11920071152171.jpg
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The Khayelitsha Shopping Centre is part
of a multi-million rand urban renewal
development, which includes residential
property, sports facilities and public
services, aimed at creating a vibrant and
sustainable CBD for Khayelitsha, with
employment and entrepreneurial
opportunities for the community. The
shopping mall will be located close to the
Khayelitsha railway station as well as a
large taxi rank, which will give residents
easy access to the centre. It has attracted
a range of the country’s big brand
tenants, including Spar, Shoprite and the
four largest banks. More than 70% of the
shops in the 20,000 m2 centre will be
occupied by South African tenants.
COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP
In addition to providing a service to the
people of Khayelitsha, who often have to
travel long distances to work and quality
shops, the centre has an empowerment
component, with plans to assist
community ownership through the
Khayelitsha Community Trust. Even the
construction process is completely
centered on the community, with the
majority of labourers being sourced from
surrounding areas.
WBHO Construction (Pty) Limited are
acting as turnkey contractors on this
project. They are a major force in
construction in Southern Africa. They are
principally involved in building, civil
engineering, road and earthworks and
township infrastructure. They have had
extensive experience in building large
shopping complexes and are one of the
few contracting firms in South Africa with
the capacity to manage this development.

LOCAL LABOUR
In keeping with the spirit of the project,
WBHO employed mostly local labourers
on the Khayelitsha project. In fact; only
around twelve of the more than 250
labourers were previously employed by
WBHO. Ivan Bloys, the general foreman
for WBHO says that it is truly inspirational
to work with people from the area. ‘We
have had no problems on the site’, he says, ‘the locals have shown a genuine
earnestness to learn and to be a part of
the development of their community. The
training support that we received from
the team at PERI Wiehahn, our formwork
suppliers, was well received by the local
labourers and has been invaluable in
speeding up the building process.
ON-SITE TRAINING
‘Working with largely unskilled labour
from Khayelitsha has been a challenge
and a learning process’, adds Bob Parris,
the project manager for WBHO. ‘But they
didn’t take long to master the PERI
Wiehahn formwork products, in about
eight weeks they became
competent construction workers.
People tend to think that PERI
formwork is a sophisticated
German product, which is not
well suited to so-called “third
world” conditions. But as
far as I am concerned it is
time for the South African
construction sector to
move forward and
make use of innovative
equipment that simplifies building processes
without compromising quality’.
For the Khayelitsha Shopping Centre,
WBHO made use of a range of PERI
products, including their VARIO formwork
for columns; GT24 Girders for pre-cast
beam formwork and for pre-cast beam
stitching above columns, all of which was
assembled at the PERI Wiehahn
premises in Blackheath. For the flat
concrete slabs, MULTIFLEX formwork
was used. In all, a total of 20 column
boxes were provided in order to cast
almost 450 columns, which ranged from
2.3 m to 5.4 m high with varying
dimensions on plan.
THE PERI ADVANTAGE
'These products have genuinely been
worth their weight in gold', says Parris,
'the resin faced boards, for example were
used 22 times per column box, instead of
the usual 12 to 15 uses with conventional
boards, and what's more, they could last
for another 22 uses!' Bloys adds that in
addition to their re-use value, the quality
of finish and speed and ease of use set
PERI products apart from any other
formwork on the market today.
It is in part thanks to the PERI Wiehahn
formwork that both Parris and Bloys are
confident that they will finish well in time
for the 24 November 2005 opening of the
Khayelitsha Shopping Centre.

How many shopping malls are there in Khayelitsha at the moment? Is there enough purchasing power in that township for this new mall?

It is already built, so is the huge promenade shopping centre in mitchells plain.

In the Western Cape, Khayelitsha and Mitchell’s Plain were identified as urban renewal focus areas. Because both are located within the municipal boundaries of the City of Cape Town, the Urban Renewal Strategy is implemented and monitored by the City’s Urban Renewal Programme Department. Ministers Charles Nqakula and Trevor Manuel are URP National political champions deployed in Khayelitsha and Mitchell’s Plain.

Premier Ebrahim Rasool is the provincial political champion, and the Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Helen Zille, is the local political champion. The overall objectives of the URP are to enable systematic and sustained interventions to alleviate poverty and significantly address under-development and socio-economic exclusion in Khayelitsha and Mitchell’s Plain.


Charles Nqakula....that's an omen.

Used for community events/exhibitions/sports event. Home to an international standard boxing ring for local and international boxing events.

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Cape Town BMX Venue gets fast-tracked

A groundbreaking ceremony in Khayelitsha has marked the launch of the much-anticipated new Velokhaya Cycling Centre – the first centre of its kind in South Africa.

The ceremonial groundbreaking was performed today, Friday, December 14, by legendary broadcaster, Phil Liggett (MBE), the ‘voice of cycling’ and Velokhaya patron.

Velokhaya – which takes its name from the French word for bicycle (velo) and Xhosa word for home (Khaya) – is the fundraising initiative of the Life Cycling Academy (LCA), a not-for-profit organisation which promotes cycling, and individual ‘growth through cycling’, in disadvantaged communities in South Africa.

Speaking at today’s event, LCA CEO and co-founder Glyn Broomberg said the construction of a BMX track – which would encourage mass participation in cycling and attract young children to the sport – would launch the first phase of the new Velokhaya Cycling Centre.

“Once the BMX track has been completed the Centre’s facilities will be expanded to include accommodation for cyclists and coaches, equipment maintenance and storage and a training facility for bicycle mechanics,” he said. The Centre will also focus on cycling-specific sports science and education and life skills development.

Velokhaya patron Phil Liggett said the new Velokhaya Cycling Centre had the potential to significantly and positively impact both cyclists and the community of Khayelitsha.

“The Velokhaya Centre will become synonymous with inspiration and achievement; a facility where new sporting heroes, role models and talented individuals are developed and where the sport of cycling is made accessible to many young South Africans, regardless of their race or socio-economic status.”

An architect’s drawing of the completed Velokhaya Cycling Centre

http://images.supersport.co.za/VelokhayaBuilding530.jpg

Liggett said he was enormously proud to be associated with the new Centre, which places as much emphasis on the educational and life skill development of its members as it does on sporting achievement.

Co-founder of the LCA, Amos Ziqubu said: “After six years of operating without a formal base, the new Centre is a dream come true for our fast-growing Academy.

“Not only will the Centre provide the LCA with a permanent base in the heart of the community of Khayelitsha, but it will also allow us to incorporate - and make full use of - the knowledge, skills and infrastructural capacity of our international partners.”

The Velokhaya international partners include Team CSC, the world’s number one pro-cycling team, its sponsor, the Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE: CSC) and bicycle manufacturer, Cervélo.

"That it is possible less than a year after the launch of Velokhaya, the LCA's fundraising initiative, to break ground on the first phase of their new home in Khayelitsha is a testament to the appeal of their mission to transform cycling in South Africa," said Henrik Bo Pedersen, the executive in charge of CSC's cycling sponsorships. "CSC is proud to have done our part, along with Team CSC and Cervélo, to make today a reality."

Together the LCA and its partners have established a number of cooperative programmes aimed at sharing intellectual capacity, educating LCA staff and raising funds for the Academy.

The LCA has also established a mentorship programme with Team CSC. “The mentorship programme will allow our LCA cyclists to develop a close relationship with, and be inspired by, top professional European cyclists and make it possible for LCA riders to compete in Europe alongside their heroes,” said Ziqubu.

Caption: Breaking new ground (from left to right): Phil Liggett, the international 'voice of cycling' and Velokhaya patron turns the soil to mark the start of construction at the new Velokhaya Cycling Centre in Khayelitsha. Joining him in the ceremonial dig are the Life Cycling Academy's Zanele Tshoko (13), the Western Province Female Cyclist of the Year and LCA co-founder Amos Ziqubu

Velokhaya inspires Ackerman Foundation
18 December 2007 (18:45)
THE Ackerman Pick ‘n Pay Foundation has donated R100 000 towards the purchase of new bicycles for members of the soon-to-be built Velokhaya Cycling Centre in Khayelitsha.

The donation was made by Jonathan Ackerman, Pick ‘n Pay Marketing Director, who attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Velokhaya Cycling Centre – the first centre of its kind in South Africa - on Friday, December 14, 2007.

Velokhaya – which takes its name from the French word for bicycle (velo) and Xhosa word for home (Khaya) – is the fundraising initiative of the Life Cycling Academy (LCA), a not-for-profit organisation which promotes cycling, and individual ‘growth through cycling’, in disadvantaged communities in South Africa.

The LCA - which is to begin building the Centre’s new BMX track in January 2008 – currently has 500 members but only 100 bicycles.

“There is increasing interest in cycling and the Ackerman Pick ‘n Pay Foundation’s generous donation of R100 000 will help the LCA fulfill its aim of encouraging mass participation in cycling by making it possible for more young children to participate in the sport,” said LCA CEO and co-founder, Glyn Broomberg.

The Pick ’n Pay Group, a family-controlled business, is one of Africa’s largest and most consistently successful retailers of food, clothing and general merchandise.

The Velokhaya international partners include Team CSC, the world’s number one pro-cycling team, its sponsor, the Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE: CSC) and bicycle manufacturer, Cervélo.

CAPTION: From left to right: The Life Cycling Academy’s Sinazo Sityana, Glyn Broomberg, Ntombomzi Matholeni, Siyabulela Klaas Amos Ziqubu with Jonathan Ackerman (third right wearing blue shirt)

Khayelitsha Multi-purpose Community Centre

http://www.makekadesigns.com/x/resolveUid/06688840983ea21537e765750ba4e432
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Hypothesis / Problem Statement:

What is the nature of a civic building within a township?


Context:

Sprawling informal settlement - a legacy of Apartheid oppression and planning for segregation of people and space.


Design Response:

The design sought to challenge the common perception and precedent that a building within a poor area should warrant low capital investment and lack quality. It is a pilot project that set out to serve the social needs of the public and will be influential for the buture development of the central business district.

In the absence of the urban design framework, it was necessary to to develop and spatialize a building that responds to environmental patterns and behaviours. MDL examined the use patterns of the area on aerial photographs - a technique of observation borrowed from environmental research design in order to map the existing social fabric.

MDL continues to break ground with an innovative architectural building set to serve the community of the informal settlement of Khayelitsha for years to come. The project is a key component of two residential urban renewal nodes and pushes construction and design standards for the industry as a whole. The architectural program incorporates an internal sports court, offices, gallery space, and a proposed urban public park.

Nice deisgn Mo and thanks for posting.

Nice deisgn Mo and thanks for posting.

construction is entering the final phase.

If this is an Urban Renewal Programme, how come you put small sports facilities in this thread? You have any other developments than those?

R131 MILLION UPGRADE OF MITCHELLS PLAIN CBD

The City of Cape Town's Mayoral Committee today approved the legal process for the demarcation of 1 107 new informal trading bays as part of the implementation of a R131m infrastructure upgrade of the Mitchells Plain Central Business District (CBD).

Mayoral Committee Member for Economic, Social Development and Tourism, Cllr Simon Grindrod, who is also responsible for informal trading, said the proposed 13 new informal markets - covering about 4 428 square metres - would mean improved safety for commuters, shoppers and other users of the Mitchells Plain Town Centre.

He said today’s adoption of a report by his department recommending the demarcation of the new markets meant that new informal trading opportunities could now be advertised for public comment.

"This is a significant achievement in our efforts to create employment opportunities for the community including direct and indirect jobs and skills creation," Grindrod said.

The proposed demarcation of the new market spaces is in an effort to clear the present congestion in areas frequently used by pedestrians. The proposed new markets include those on Harmony Square, Market/Rondo Square, Lyric Square and others in and around the Mitchells Plain CBD.

The various structures in the Town Centre support the recommendations of the report, as does the Mitchells Plain Subcouncil.

Grindrod said the objective of the R131m infrastructure upgrade project was for the further development and regeneration of the Mitchells Plain CBD through public investment from all three spheres of government and the creation of an enabling environment for private sector development. Mitchells Plain is a Presidential Urban Renewal Node.

The project would mean access to retail and trading opportunities for the community, Grindrod said.

About 75 000 people currently use the public transport facilities within Mitchells Plain CBD during the morning and evening peak hour periods.

Grindrod said the strategic public transport investment would unlock further private sector development and investment opportunities.

The project has a wide mix of projects in terms of project type, outcomes and impact. A direct spin-off of the public investment was the leveraging of private investments, which generates job opportunities and the re-investment of disposable income.

Grindrod said the improved Mitchells Plain CBD would benefit a wide area including communities of Philippi, Nyanga, Guguletu, Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha.

The development of the Mitchells Plain CBD includes:
• The integration of the different spatial areas within the CBD;
• The provision of taxi rank facilities and a new bus terminus;
• The provision of Informal trading market facilities and informal trade infrastructure;
• Public space improvements and landscaping;
• New road infrastructure;
• Provision of public buildings;
• Installation of CCTV cameras;
• A pedestrian bridge; and
• The establishment of a City Improvement District/management structure to co-ordinate the management and operations of the CBD in a sustainable way and with the maximum involvement of the community.

Just a question of interest: Mo, have you ever been in Mitchell's Plain and/or Kayelitsha? I highly doubt you would go there. I remember you mentioned you wouldnt even set foot in Bellville.
Great postings though.

I don't even know about the Mitchells Plain CBD. All I see on Mitchells Plain in residential housing.

Just a question of interest: Mo, have you ever been in Mitchell's Plain and/or Kayelitsha? I highly doubt you would go there. I remember you mentioned you wouldnt even set foot in Bellville.
Great postings though.

I have family in Mitchell's Plain.
I have built houses with Habitat for humanity in various townships.


I dont like Durbanville or Bellville but it doesnt mean I've never been there.

I have family in Mitchell's Plain.

What?? Jy's n chlora meisie? LOL

I have built houses with Habitat for humanity in various townships.
There's more to you than I thought. Not that I would get down low and dirty :lol:

'Private funding needed to finish N2 housing'

May 28 2008 at 09:41AM

A lack of private sector funding was the biggest challenge to the completion of the N2 Gateway project, housing director-general Itumeleng Kotsoane has said as the flagship housing project reels from yet another setback - the technical insolvency of its housing agency, Thubelisha.

"If we want to deal with the housing backlog, we need to encourage more private sector funding."

Kotsoane said a Section 32 company that could borrow and invest money was to be set up.

'...we need to encourage more private sector funding'
This was the only way to make "a dent" in the housing backlog, now at 300 000 homes.

This company, the National Housing Agency (NHA), would take over the N2 Gateway and other housing projects from Thubelisha within the next six months.

The national Department of Housing has said the "politically-divided environment" and the resistance of Joe Slovo residents to moving to Delft to clear land needed for the Gateway project were responsible for Thubelisha's failure to meet its delivery targets.

"That Thubelisha was engaged in delivering a national pilot project in Cape Town, experimenting with and quantifying the delivery of a range of new housing typologies - in a multi-stakeholder, politically-divided environment - also provided challenges," said Kotsoane.

Thubelisha's performance review for 2007/08, presented to Parliament's portfolio committee this week, showed that the company had made a loss of almost R70-million.

'To date this project has been nothing but a disgrace'
Thubelisha would, however, have enough money to continue its mandate until the NHA took over.

Kotsoane said Thubelisha and another state housing agency, Servcon, was being shut as part of the government's rationalisation of state institutions.

"The institutional rationalisation in the housing sector was designed to improve and accelerate housing delivery."

Kotsoane said Thubelisha had a "specific time in history", and there was now normality in the housing market in the townships.

"There were limits on Thubelisha in terms of its mandate and legislation. As it was a Section 21 company, it had to go to the market and raise its own money (for projects)."

The Democratic Alliance has slammed the Department of Housing and Thubelisha for "creating a divisive and politicised housing project" that it claims ignores the housing needs of people in Nyanga, Crossroads, Bonteheuwel and Athlone.

"To date this project has been nothing but a disgrace," said councillor Mzuvukile Figlan.

Meanwhile, some residents of Joe Slovo have agreed to move to temporary areas in Delft.

The Cape High Court ruled in April that more than 4 500 households had to be evicted from Joe Slovo so construction of the next phase of the N2 Gateway project could begin.

Prince Xhanti Sigcawu, general manager of the N2 Gateway project, said about 120 households would have moved voluntarily by the end of the week.

"We are determined to minimise further delays," he said.

Kotsoane said the shutting down of Thubelisha would not affect the delivery of the N2 Gateway project, which was three years past its delivery deadline. He said there was no question that what had been started would be finished.

SPEECH BY HELEN ZILLE
MAYOR OF CAPE TOWN
FOR THE KHAYELITSHA DEVELOPMENT FORUM COUNCIL MEETING
SUNDAY 11 MAY 2008 – 10H35 - SIZIMISELE SECONDARY SCHOOL - CNR OF GOVAN MBEKI RD AND MANDELA PARK RD, KHAYELITHSA


New developments that will take place in the coming financial year in Khayelitsha (including URP)

Bongi will also provide Mayor with notes from Nodal Econ Dev Workshop, on his Friday meeting with Eskom, and on Dyantyi’s attacks on the City regarding the URP)
1.Introduction
I would like to thank you for inviting me to speak to you at the Khayelitsha Development Forum plenary council meeting.
2
I would also like to thank the KDF for their ongoing support to their community, and the guidance they offer the City of Cape Town on important service delivery matters.
The City is committed to improving services and infrastructure in Khayelitsha.
We want use our municipal projects to encourage economic growth, job creation and improved standards of living in your community.
The point is, even though the City itself cannot offer employment and economic empowerment to everyone, we can make it easier for people to open businesses and create many more jobs.
We can also make Khayelitsha a more attractive place for people to invest.
I have been asked to tell you about some of the projects and developments that we have planned for Khayelitsha ahead of 2010, with this goal in mind.
3
When we consider all of these projects, the future looks positive.
2. New developments planned for Khayelitsha in the coming financial year (VPUU, URP and others)
One of the signs that the local economy is growing here is the commercial development that can be seen in the CBD and other areas.
We are trying to encourage this wherever we can, through projects like the Nonkqubela Informal Trading Market, the Vuyani, Kuyasa and Site C Meat Markets, and the Khayelitsha Training Centre. The Training centre includes Business Hives and a Digital Business Centre which gives local businesses access to electronic resources for marketing and networking.
In Harare we are investing R14 million in the Score Square between now and mid 2009 under the City’s Violence Prevention Through Urban Upgrade (VPUU).
Another crucial infrastructure project we are working on for the economic development of Khayelitsha and the improvement of living conditions is the rail extension and the Kuyasa Transport Interchange, which is part of the VPUU and Urban Renewal Project (URP).
Over the next three years we will spend R300 million on the rail extension’s Kuyasa interchange, which will include a new taxi rank and bus station, together with infrastructure for commercial outlets.
This will create opportunities for entrepreneurs, and encourage further investment and job creation in the area.
Several other important developments on the rail extension are also nearly completed, including several road and pedestrian bridges, a new connecting road network that the City has built, and two new stations.
We are improving road networks and related infrastructure in other parts of the community as well, such as the Pama Road development due to be completed by the end of 2009, to improve access and efficiency, and investors.

I must emphasise that the City does not support the toll road being proposed for the N2 near Khayelitsha by national government agency SANRAL.
A toll road on the N2 would unfairly prejudice the poorer communities in this area.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) record of decision which was released earlier this year shows that the socio-economic impact of toll roads was not addressed.
Also, many commuters are likely to use alternative routes on secondary roads which will damage them, compound congestion and negatively affect the living conditions of residents in this area.
Besides, toll roads are not a viable or fair option in the absence of a safe, reliable and integrated public transport system which will provide a reasonable alternative to using the toll road.
SANRAL has a responsibility to maintain our national roads. It is unclear to me why it expects the public to pay further levies for road maintenance and upgrades that
6
should be funded by their already high levies and tax allocation.
The City will be formally objecting to the proposals soon.
Returning to key projects in the year ahead, the City will be supporting major commercial events like the Khayelitsha Festival, which is to be held in October or November this year at the Oliver Tambo Hall.
The Khayelitsha Festival is going to be an exciting first for Cape Town.
It will include exhibitions and performances, and will focus on health, fashion, food, leisure and lifestyle.
It will provide small enterprises in Khayelitsha with a number of opportunities to generate income and build a profile.
It will also generate interest from tourists, as will the Khayelitsha Wine Festival, which we are also supporting.
7
One of the City’s priorities is to encourage the tourism industry in this community, which is one of Cape Town’s major sources of income in places like the Atlantic Sea Board, the Southern Peninsula and Strand.
To this end, we are investing in a tourism centre and facilities in Look Out Hill, upgrading the Khayelitsha Wetlands Park, the FIFA Hope Centre in Harare (under the VPUU programme) and renovating facilities at Monwabisi.
I am very excited about the work that is starting at Monwabisi – we have been allocated about R100 million from Treasury under the URP and VPUU to transform this beautiful stretch of coastline into a major tourist attraction and recreation area for the local community. This beach is an untapped gold mine of tourist potential.
In order to ensure that our projects and municipal services in Khayelitsha are well managed, we are also preparing to establish new Municipal Offices in the Business District.
Funding has been provided by the Khayelitsha Community Trust for the appointment of a consultant to
8
undertake a needs analysis for this development, and once this analysis has been completed, we will initiate the construction of the new offices.
We have also provided new municipal facilities for community use in the form the CBD and Eyethu Multi-purpose Centres (together costing the City R40 million), which are almost complete.
Part of making Khayelitsha more appealing to investors, and also a better place to live, is improving the physical environment in terms of safety and organisation.
That is what our VPUU programme is about. I have already mentioned some of the projects that fall under that programme, however we also have some very positive plans in the pipeline.
One of the most important of these is the Urban Design and Development framework plan for Site C / TR, which should be ready by early next year. This plan will guide our spending on public transport, housing, local economic development, public places, pedestrian facilities, and new housing developments.
9
For Site C we are also planning various community based initiatives over and above existing fire safety and emergency programmes, including interventions to support victims of violence, prevent crime and assist the youth with access to new opportunities. These include the development of partnerships with NGOs for anti-rape support services, legal advice services, talent exchange systems, community patrols and training of conflict mediators in Schools.
We are planning similar interventions in Harare and other areas.
At the same time as encouraging growth in the local economy through infrastructure investment, we have also introduced a number of programmes to upgrade and improve living conditions of residents.
Rapid and sustained economic growth is the long term solution to the challenge of poverty and sub-standard living conditions affecting Khayelitsha.
But the City is also committed to meeting its constitutional obligation to provide access to water, sanitation and shelter for the poorest residents of this
10
community, and we have nearly R500 million on the coming annual budget for this purpose.
We want to provide the poor with the support they need while they seek to empower themselves through jobs or business ventures.
We want to ensure that more residents have access to basic services. Our Informal Settlement Upgrade Master Plan commits the City to providing basic services to all 40 informal areas of Khayelitsha by 2010, including one standpipe for every 25 homes, community based distribution and collection of black bags, area cleaning, flood or street lighting and pre-paid electrical connections. However, the good news is that about 30 of the 40 areas will have these by the end of this year, and only four areas (Nyebelele, MM1 Section, QA Section and Masikhule) will have to wait until the end of next year.
A particular challenge for us is to ensure that more residents have access to electricity.
11
For this reason, we are working very hard to have the existing high masts in Khayelitsha connected to the Eskom grid.
We held a meeting on Friday (9th of May 2008) to finalize the Enkanini masts and I will keep pressure on Eskom to deliver on this.
The City has ordered at least another three masts for this particular project to ensure safety and security as the electrification of this area by Eskom is still some time away.
In terms of waste removal, in the formal areas of Khayelitsha, we will be introducing a new community based system of area cleaning this year, which is about to go out to tender. Suburbs such as Ekuphumeleni, Graceland, Griiffiths Mxenge, Harare, Illitha Park, Khaya, Kuyasa, Mandela Park and Umrhabulo Triangle will be serviced by 70 full time labourers recruited from the community to clean the streets and open spaces in the formal areas. The tender will be awarded for three years with workers hired through a random selection process to be repeated on an annual basis in order to ensure
12
fairness. We are hoping to have this service working by July or August.
Finally, looking at housing, we are trying to do something for as many people as possible, rather than a lot for a well-connected few, which has created so many problems with the National and Provincial controlled N2 Gateway Project.
Our top priority is getting housing beneficiaries onto serviced sites and giving them security of tenure. We want people to own the ground they live on, so that they can take pride in it, develop it, and even use it to get credit to start businesses if possible.
In projects currently underway, we are delivering thousands of housing opportunities.
Silvertown has already created 1200 opportunities.
Nonquebela Phase 2 will deliver 1000 sites.
In various parts of Site C, Imbokotho Emnyama and Intsika we will be delivering about 2000 units in the years ahead.
13
And by the end of 2009 we will have delivered 1500 opportunities in Enkanini.
In the medium term I am also very optimistic about the prospects of several major new housing developments we are considering for the Khayelithsa area, although the plans are still being finalised.
I am also happy to say that we have commenced a wonderful energy efficiency project in the Kuyasa low cost housing project which will use solar panels to generate energy. I hope that we can eventually extend this to all housing projects.
The main hurdles we face when it comes to housing are a serious shortage of suitable land for housing, and the red tape created by environmental laws and Province’s refusal to grant us housing accreditation.
Our big challenge for the year ahead will be to tackle these issues.
3. Conclusion
14
To conclude, the City is investing billions of rands in Khayelitsha over the next few years to encourage economic growth and improve living conditions for residents.
We are happy to have the assistance and commitment of the KDF in this endeavour – and our commitment to working with them for the benefit of development in Khayelitsha is underscored by our allocation of funds for staff to support the forum.
I look forward to hearing your questions and concerns regarding any of the projects and initiatives I have mentioned above, and I look forward to continuing our positive working relationship.
I thank you.

Dignified Spaces Projects - Athlone/Gatesville

http://www.taupride.com/cssgallery/images/dignified-spaces-1.jpg
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^^ That's nice landscpaing MO.

the cape landscaping and egitation reminds me so much of australia, the milk trees, port jacksons, the scub and the recostituted granite in the footpaths.

When I say Im so excited to be comming back im like a little kid waitin for xmas

Khayelitsha restaurant set to draw tourists

By Moses Mdewu Mackay

The City of Cape Town is to launch a restaurant at Khayelitsha's Look Out Hill in a bid to attract more tourists to the township.

This comes after Sisa Ngondo, the city's senior professional officer for product development, complained at a business breakfast in May that some residents were misusing the facility by holding church services or classes for pupils there.

Ngondo's colleague, Nombulelo Mkefa, said they had conceptualised a restaurant, craft market, exhibition and boardroom space for meetings at Look Out Hill.

'We are also putting in a full kitchen so that the restaurant can be more accessible'
Mkefa, who is also city director of tourism, said the facility was a tourist attraction. "We are also putting in a full kitchen so that the restaurant can be more accessible," she said.

Khayelitsha's economic and commercial environment had also developed and had been able to attract investment, she said.

"We are also targeting locals for business and leisure. Instead of going to Somerset Mall and other areas, they can visit Look Out Hill and have a lovely experience."

Mkefa said the facility could also stimulate the local economy, which would have spin-offs for local businesses. She called on the private sector and other potential investors to support the initiative.

At a recent Khayelitsha Business Forum meeting Simon Grindrod, mayoral committee member for social and economic development and tourism, spoke about the tendering process for Look Out Hill and the importance of educating local businesses about doing business with the city.

Mkefa said the facility had been put out to tender three times but they had been unable to appoint a company to run it.



* This article was originally published on page 6 of The Cape Argus on July 16, 2008

The Argus

Published on the Web by IOL on 2008-07-16 11:36:00
© Independent Online 2005. All rights reserved. IOL publishes this article in good faith but is not liable for any loss or damage caused by reliance on the information it contains.

Urban Renewal Programme now ‘online’

Khayelitsha, Kuyasa Housing Project

The Urban Renewal Programme (URP) is a government initiative, announced in 2001 by President Thabo Mbeki, aims to reduce urban poverty and underdevelopment by co-ordinating the work of all government development agencies and speeding up service delivery in eight identified townships (known as Urban Renewal Nodes).

In Cape Town, these Nodes are Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plein. And all Cape Town residents can now pay a ‘virtual visit’ to these Nodes at the URP website.

"Our website allows other development practitioners to replicate some of the lessons and best practice that we have learnt, in other needy areas, " says Monwabisi Booi, Manager: URP Strategic Co-ordination and Integration.

The website features video links and photo galleries, which show areas before intervention, the progress of the project, and the final product. "People can actually see that things are really happening," he said. "Like they say, a picture speaks a thousand words."

Numerous anchor projects have been designed to attract a large proportion of this Urban Renewal Programme investment, and have made a significant impact on a number of people within the two areas.

The anchor projects include:

* Khayelitsha CBD – A mixed-use, vibrant area for Khayelitsha residents, who are able to take up economic opportunities.
* Rail extension - The Khayelitsha rail line is being extended for 4.2km, with two train stations, four pedestrian bridges, four road-over-rail bridges, and two public transport interchanges being built.
* Health - Facilities are being improved to ensure adequate access to health services and reduce the incidence of HIV and Aids.
* Housing, land - Housing developments are accelerated by releasing land for new integrated human settlements, as well as upgrading informal settlements.
* Mitchells Plain CBD and transport interchange - The CBD is being regenerated and developed, to include a new retail centre, new administrative buildings, a new market, and new roads.
* Lentegeur and Mandalay transport interchange - These stations are being remodelled to improve access and improve the station forecourts.
* Youth and Family Development Centre, Tafelsig public space upgrade - This projects aims to provide dignified public spaces associated with the housing projects and centre.
* The Swartklip Regional Sports Facility - An integrated regional sports facility is being built to serve the Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha communities and promote sport as a measure to uplift communities and integrate them. It will also serve as a viewing site for the 2010 Soccer World Cup™.

OR Tambo Indoor Centre

- 1,150sqm of Indoor Exhibition Space
- 2000 seats for indoor sports event
- Total potential capacity of 10,000 (Building includes temporary sidewalls which can be removed to increase capacity by 7,500 temporary seats)
- To be upgraded to host the festival

Venue for the Khayelitsha Festival

http://khayelitshafestival.co.za/images/stories/easygallery/16/1220001374_photo%20of%20or%20tambo%20hall%20from%20n2.jpg



In many cultures throughout history the annual tradition of a community festival celebrating leadership, lifestyle, community spirit, cultural creativity, entrepreneurial achievement & excellence, artistry, music & sporting prowess – is joyfully observed. South Africa is no exception.

Remarkably, 2008 heralds the 25th Anniversary of the vast, sprawling community of Khayelitsha on the Cape Flats area of Cape Town. The Khayelitsha Festival, due to be staged from 24th to 26th October, will reflect and crystallize the genesis and development of Khayelitsha over the last 25 years.

Involving the entire Western Cape community

“It is imperative that access to business information, career guidance, promotion of work opportunities and the stimulation of an entrepreneurial culture be promoted through the Khayelitsha Festival,” said Simon Grindrod, City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Economic and Social Development after the City passed a resolution on 16th April to support the Festival with R800 000 of funding.

Image The Khayelitsha Festival will become the principal, annual, hallmark event in Khayelitsha that draws together business, SMMEs, youth, community organizations, consumers, media and thousands of people on an annual basis to celebrate the creativity, energy, richness and diversity of Khayelitsha and the diverse surrounding communities. It will be the largest event of its kind in the Western Cape and act as a powerful force of social cohesion, bringing the first and the second economies of the City of Cape Town together in a grand, community celebration of cultural, social and economic growth and development. Though event is to be staged in

Khayelitsha, it aims to attract visitors from the many surrounding communities of Mitchell’s Plain, Langa, Grassy Park, Crossroads, Gugulethu and other townships on the Cape Flats, as well as residents from the rest of Cape Town and the Western Cape.

The target population is upwards of 3 million people. The Festival should therefore be seen as a powerful social cohesion vehicle for this wider community to participate and celebrate, with Cape Town being the theatre
and Khayelitsha the stage for the event.

Activities

The diverse business exhibition stands and the dazzling entertainment program encompassing choirs, gospel, fashion, lifestyle, food, business icons, budding entrepreneurs, small business stars, traders, young people, emerging and top local entertainers and sports stars will instill real pride in Khayelitsha and surrounding communities. The Festival has eight major themes, each of which will provide a focus for sponsors, exhibitors and the visiting public. Within each theme a number of activities and promotions have been planned (the final programme of event will depend on the amount of sponsorship raised). Below are listed a number of possible activities in each of the eight theme areas.

• Leisure & Lifestyle
Exhibition Approximately 1 100 square metres of covered exhibition space is available incorporating the following sectors and more. Home related products eg. furniture, home and kitchen appliances; Food and Beverage industry; DIY e.g. tools, paint, hardware; Hi-Techm incl computers, mobile phones, TV’s and other electronic goods; Health, Beauty & Fashion; Community Projects; Outdoor/gardening

Up to 100 business, NGO and government entities will exhibit at the Festival.

• Small and Micro Enterprise Development
In collaboration with SMME organisations and/or Sponsors, SMMEs will be identified and selected. An “Exhibitor Training Course” will be implemented both pre and post event in partnership with a Cape Town based tertiary institution. This course will arm the SMME exhibitor with all the tools necessary to promote, market and sell their products and/or services at the exhibition as well as provide valuable information on, for example, creating customer databases based on leads taken at the Festival, following up on these leads, customer service, etc. This project will be run with the assistance of the City of Cape Town Local Economic Development Department and the Khayelitsha Business Forum.

• Youth Zone
As youth development forms such a pivotal part of the Festival, an entire section of the Festival will be dedicated to providing the youth with guidance regarding their career choices as well as involving them in a hip, funky, entertaining activity programme. This section will be known as the “Youth Zone”. It will comprise an exhibition area for tertiary institutions and other organizations targeting the 16-25 year old market, and a stage which will feature presentations by well known role models who will give tips to the youth on how to make it in life.

• Food, Beverage & Nutrition
In the Chef’s Arena, celebrity chefs will be invited to showcase their culinary talents in a section of the exhibition. Contemporary African food will be prepared for tasting, along with wines and other beverages produced from all over South Africa.

• Arts & Culture
In the Storytelling Boma we plan to have an area dedicated to story telling and the recollections of individual histories through stories, poetry and other oral methods. In South Africa we are poised at a unique moment in history where a dynamic, emerging story is being written not always necessarily shackled to the apartheid past. The Storytelling Boma will capture the transitions of ordinary people and provide them with an opportunity to tell their stories and be heard.

• Main Stage Entertainment Programme
This will take place on the main stage erected outside the OR Tambo hall. Three days of music, dance and shows featuring most of the major musical genres in South Africa.

• Travel & Tourism
The Festival organizers will liaise with local tour companies to ensure that they include the Festival in their tour itineraries. These will be promoted by Routes Unlimited and other tourism bodies in Cape Town. This will require the close involvement of our media partner Media 24 as it will depend heavily on an advertising and promotional campaign to create awareness.

• Health, Beauty & Fashion
Fashion shows will feature Khayelitsha-based fashion designers alongside established brands who will be producing garments specifically for the Festival. A 90 minute show will run each day on the main stage, while smaller shows will be run during the day every day in the main marquee. The 2006 and 2007 Soweto Festival Fashion Shows were world class and generated huge crowd support and media interest.

http://www.khayelitshafestival.co.za/images/stories/easygallery/resized/16/1220001373_or%20tambo%20hall%20with%20sports%20pitch.jpg

City opens world's third largest water pressure system in Mitchells Plain

The City of Cape Town opened a R9 million water pressure management system in Mandalay, Mitchells Plain. The system, which ranks as the third largest in the world, will mitigate damage to household plumbing appliances and pipes created by excessively high water pressures in pipes supplying consumers.

Councillor Justus, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Utility Services, opened the installation at an official function held on Tuesday, 4 November. In his speech, he said that the pressure management installation would regulate and reduce the pressure in the area’s water pipes during off-peak, reduced demand periods, such as when people are asleep. At these times, he explained, water pressure typically rises and leads to breaks and leaks in pipes. He noted that pressure reduction should not be seen as a decrease in service levels to the consumer, but rather as an overall improvement. He also pointed out that water would always still be available in the required quantities, regardless of the time.

"The City has a long and impressive track record with the implementation of various water demand management measures, particularly in pressure management as well as in the re-use of sewage effluent for irrigation. New developments and pressure management techniques are saving the City millions of Rands annually and assisting in the conservation of this finite and most precious resource,” Councillor Justus said.

In 2001 Cape Town became the first major city in the world to implement a large scale pressure management project in Khayelitsha. The project was specifically aimed at reducing leakage during off-peak periods.

At the time, the installation was not only an international innovation but also the largest of its type in the world (It was superceded by the Sebokeng-Evaton pressure management installation near Johannesburg in 2005). It reduced water wastage in the area by approximately 1 000 000 litres per hour - enough water to fill an Olympic sized swimming pool every two hours. The installation has been fully operational for seven years and continues to save the City of Cape Town nine million cubic metres of water per annum (which amounts to R30-million per annum).

Mitchells Plain is a large, relatively flat and low-lying area that experiences high water pressures during off-peak periods. The installation will therefore benefit residents by protecting their pipes, prolonging the life of the water reticulation system and conserving household plumbing fittings. It is also expected to reduce sewage flows from the area and help ensure a more reliable water supply. The savings that it will generate are expected to cover its costs in less than a year.

"Several other smaller scale pressure management projects are currently underway in Lwandle, Delft, Fisantekraal and Gugulethu. Commissioning of the Atlantis project will take place shortly. Pressure reduction devices will continue to be installed throughout the city, where these projects will show beneficial results. A start needed to be made and this has initially been focused in those areas where water losses have been the highest and where we can best put into practice, our Water Conservation and Water Demand Management Strategy," said Councillor Justice.

City to provide cleaner and safer trading in Mitchells Plain Town Centre
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
MEDIA RELEASE
25 NOVEMBER 2008

The Mayoral Committee of the City of Cape Town today(25 November) re-affirmed its intention to improve market squares in the Mitchells Plain Town Centre as part of its economic development strategy to create cleaner and safer trading environments.

This confirms a decision, taken by Council in May, to re-designate the informal trading bays in the Mitchells Plain Town Centre to ensure compliance with municipal by-laws. These proposals were supported by the Mitchells Plain Informal Trader Associations, and the leadership of the Mitchells Plain Informal Traders, representing some 1 500 informal traders.

The Mayoral Committee again emphasised that all the users of the public space must comply with the City’s By-laws and regulations such as the Fire and Safety By-law pertaining to informal trading in the Mitchells Plain Town Centre walkways.

Mansoor Mohamed, the City’s Executive Director for Economic, Social Development and Tourism, said: “Mitchells Plain Town Centre currently has walkways and squares that are extremely congested with informal traders. This adversely affects the public, formal and informal businesses and retailers. Creating a new market place will relieve congestion in the Town Centre, open the walkways for pedestrian use and create new business and economic opportunities. Existing walkways and squares will be upgraded and more market spaces created”.

City’s co-operative agreement will promote urban farming in Philippi
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
MEDIA RELEASE
25 NOVEMBER 2008

The Mayoral Committee of the City of Cape Town today(25 November) approved a co-operation agreement with the Municipal Development Partnership for Eastern and Southern Africa (MDP-ESA) to implement an urban agriculture project in Philippi, Cape Town. The budget for the next five years is a million rand.

MDP-ESA is a regional and international organisation that supports urban agriculture in Eastern and Southern Africa through a project called Cities Farming for the Future (CFF). Its objectives for urban farmers are improved security through increased food production, poverty reduction, improved environment management and the opportunity to help formulate agriculture policy.

Mansoor Mohamed, the Executive Director for Economic, Social Development and Tourism said: “The City is very excited about this pilot project because it will directly assist the poorest Cape Town residents. Vegetable farming, livestock keeping, bee keeping and possibly rabbit farming will benefit.

Challenges faced include availability of suitable water, theft of produce, lack of skills, money and equipment and illegal squatting.

The agreement fits strategically into the Urban Agriculture Development Programme of the City. It will assist aspirant urban farmers and give them access to the newly established Philippi Fresh Produce Market and the Philippi Mechanised Agriculture Resource Centre.”

City to provide cleaner and safer trading in Mitchells Plain Town Centre
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
MEDIA RELEASE
25 NOVEMBER 2008

The Mayoral Committee of the City of Cape Town today(25 November) re-affirmed its intention to improve market squares in the Mitchells Plain Town Centre as part of its economic development strategy to create cleaner and safer trading environments.

This confirms a decision, taken by Council in May, to re-designate the informal trading bays in the Mitchells Plain Town Centre to ensure compliance with municipal by-laws. These proposals were supported by the Mitchells Plain Informal Trader Associations, and the leadership of the Mitchells Plain Informal Traders, representing some 1 500 informal traders.

The Mayoral Committee again emphasised that all the users of the public space must comply with the City’s By-laws and regulations such as the Fire and Safety By-law pertaining to informal trading in the Mitchells Plain Town Centre walkways.

Mansoor Mohamed, the City’s Executive Director for Economic, Social Development and Tourism, said: “Mitchells Plain Town Centre currently has walkways and squares that are extremely congested with informal traders. This adversely affects the public, formal and informal businesses and retailers. Creating a new market place will relieve congestion in the Town Centre, open the walkways for pedestrian use and create new business and economic opportunities. Existing walkways and squares will be upgraded and more market spaces created”.

This is the best news I've heard so far. Mitchell's Plain Town Centre is dingy, to say the least.

Building blitz for Khayelitsha

By Lynnette Johns

As the aeroplane began its final descent into Cape Town it was not the view of the magnificent mountain that held the Irish occupants spellbound, but rather the thousands of tiny corrugated metal and wooden shacks in parts of Khayelitsha.

It was there that they would be spending the next week on a building blitz, constructing 250 houses for 3 000 people in Site C Khayelitsha for the Niall Mellon Township Trust.

This is the sixth year the Niall Mellon Township Trust has brought out Irish volunteers to build houses in Cape Town. The trust is South Africa's largest provider of charity housing. Once built, the houses are assigned to people on the City of Cape Town's housing waiting list.

In January Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern donated €5-million to the trust, which hopes to build 7 000 homes.

'I am giving something back to society'
Saturday was the first day of this year's blitz and 1 000 volunteers, dressed in brightly coloured T-shirts were hard at work in Site C, building the 250 houses across the shanty suburb, next to the shacks.

The 1 000 volunteers heeded Mellon's call to do something for South Africa. In a press release last week the billionaire said: "Our charity is only six years old. We are now the largest charity provider of homes for low income families in South Africa, but every part of what we have done has been a partnership. A partnership with the Irish people, with poor South Africans and a partnership with the Irish and South African governments.

"We have set ambitious targets over the next couple of years and want to build 10 000 houses annually by 2010. I am appealing to any person reading this article to come on board with us and help us next year."

More than 700 of the volunteers, like Ger Tuohy, sport a combination of the South African and Irish flags on their sleeves. The number denotes how many years they have volunteered.

Tuohy, from Silvermines in Tipperary, sports four flags. He is an electrician by trade.

'My dad went to school with no shoes, that was just 50 years ago'
Each volunteer raises €5 000 to make the trip possible. Tuohy and his friend Matt Hanly organised golf classics, a night out in a pub with a band and a raffle to raise the money.

"Every year we say this is the last year, but every year we are back," he says with a grin.

Tuohy says he gets a huge "buzz" from being part of this large team. His main objective is to house children. His own children Aine, 7 and Emer, 5, give him money for children in the townships. He, in turn, takes pictures of local children back home to his children.

John Moore has six flags; he was one of the first volunteers to heed Mellon's call.

Moore, from Rathcoffey County Kildare, is a house builder back home. In Khayelitsha he is a foreman.

"Many of my suppliers gave me money for the trip, I think with this recession though, it is going to be difficult to raise funds for next year," he said.

Moore says he got involved when he saw a television programme on the desperate plight of some of South Africa's people.

Besides volunteering to build houses, he is also involved in two orphanages and a school, where they have raised funds to buy desks, computers and other equipment the children need.

It is just after noon and already the house has started to take shape. It looks incongruous surrounded by shacks. A few people stare curiously at the goings on, the children however, are far more curious and the volunteers often stop to share a kind word or to ask a question.

Siobhan Hanley laughingly blames her brother-in-law John Keegan for her volunteering to come to Khayelitsha. "He kept on talking about it and then I watched a documentary on TV."

Hanley, from Roscommon is a nurse at the Sacred Heart hospital, her husband Liam farms cattle.

"I was taken aback when I saw the shacks from the plane. It was horrifying; in Ireland even the poorest of the poor have houses," she said.

She is a novice and won't be building. Instead, she is a medic and sports a big red cross on the back of her navy blue T-shirt. Her first patient yesterday morning was a builder who had got a large splinter in his hand.

Dave Patterson from Dublin may be an aircraft mechanic, but he has previously helped to build four houses. "I am giving something back to society. My dad went to school with no shoes, that was just 50 years ago so we can empathise with South Africa."

Buckets kicked as Khayelitsha waits to flush

By Ziyanda Sidumo

After waiting for years for access to flushing toilets, residents of the BM Section informal settlement in Khayelitsha have finally had 280 of them installed by the city.

About 5 000 residents, who have until now been using bucket toilets, will benefit from the new flushing toilets.

The city plans to install the next 140 toilets by next March.

A resident of the area, Nokuzola Nedala, said she was very happy that she now had access to a flushing toilet.

The ward councillor for the area, Nosakhele Jelele, said the community was delighted to have the flushing toilets available to them.

"There were about 48 bucket system toilets that the whole community relied on.

"I'm so happy that they are getting proper toilets.

"We hope they will keep them in a good condition," said Jelele.

Blommie Hendricks, the city's Director of Development Services, said that because the area was densely occupied, it was not possible to install sewerage pipes in the middle of the settlement.

"So the BM community agreed that the city should place the toilets on the outside boundary," said Hendricks.

Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille told residents that the BM Section was one of five informal settlements where the city was planning to apply its new approach of providing a comprehensive raft of basic services.

According to Hendricks, the city will launch a survey of all informal settlement households in February, so that it can plan together with the community to put in roads, water, electricity, toilets and rubbish removal.

* This article was originally published on page 4 of The Cape Argus on December 11, 2008

The Argus

Published on the Web by IOL on 2008-12-11 11:42:00
© Independent Online 2005. All rights reserved. IOL publishes this article in good faith but is not liable for any loss or damage caused by reliance on the information it contains.

City to renew focus on key economic projects and growth



By Lindsay Dentlinger

The City of Cape Town has pledged renewed focus on economically depressed areas of the city, particularly Khayelitsha, Atlantis, Philippi and Mitchells Plain, saying interventions to date have not yielded expected returns.

Mayoral committee member for finance, Ian Neilson, who has taken over the additional portfolio of economic development, said the performance of the Khayelitsha Community Trust (KCT) had been sub-optimal and crime in the area was stifling opportunities for ordinary people.

"We need a total review of economically depressed areas because what we have now is just not working."

Neilson said he was extremely disappointed by the performance of the KCT, despite significant investment.

The city would also be reviewing its institutional partnerships to bring the necessary growth to Cape Town.

The provincial development agency Wesgro was not luring enough investment to the city, said Neilson, but the city was satisfied with the performance of Cape Town Tourism. Wesgro's performance is under evaluation by the city.

Mayor Helen Zille announced on Monday that she was merging the finance and economic development portfolios on her mayoral committee.

Neilson said that while the DA multi-party administration had established the platform to launch and attract businesses, it was time to promote entrepreneurship and create jobs.

Neilson has earmarked a number of key economic projects, including re-opening the debate on transporting natural gas to the city.

Other projects include the possibility of a small craft harbour at Silverstroomstrand, the development of an IT and media campus to foster business start-ups, and greenfields developments in the Helderberg and Philippi areas.

lindsay.dentlinger@inl.co.za

Published on the web by Cape Argus on January 22, 2009.

The DA is Anti-Poor!!

Community facilities: Highlights

Completed capital projects include R20,2-million for the Khayelitsha Multipurpose Centre, R10,1-million for the Mitchells Plain Family and Youth Centre, R6,9-million for the Eyethu Multipurpose Centre and R3,1-million for the Parow athletics track. Buildings, pathways and hard surfacing were completed at the Khayelitsha Wetlands Park.

Housing highlights

During 2007/8, a total of 6 439 housing opportunities were delivered. More
than 70 ha of land were bought for housing. A R208-million project to turn
564 single-sex hostels into family units is under way in Langa, Gugulethu and
Nyanga, as is the R118-million Kuyasa housing project in Khayelitsha Site C.

Informal settlements

A total of 60 informal settlements were serviced with water, sanitation and area lighting, and an upgrade in Kosovo has provided 5 500 households with basic services. A site-and-service project for some 1 600 households has been launched in Enkanini, and in Uitsig, a temporary resettlement area (TRA) for 100 households is being established. A service contract for 2 217 households has been completed in Sweethomes, while in Nomzamo TRAs were established for 230 households from Wag ‘n Bietjie affected
by fires. In Symphony Way, TRAs were established for 1 640 households.

Urban renewal in Khayelitsha

Completed projects include the R18-million roads upgrade in Silvertown,
R31-million worth of civil engineering work at Site C, a R35-million upgrade
of Erf 2633 in Nonqubela/Makhaza for 800 households, the R13-million
Enkanini/Ezwelitsha upgrade project, and the building of 509 houses at
Green Point for R91,5-million.

Urban renewal in Mitchells Plain

Anchor projects include the R451-million public transport interchange in the
Mitchells Plain CBD, the R34-million southern terminal, the R92 million
housing project in Tafelsig, the R15-million upgrade of 493 informal settlement
units at Freedom Park, and the provision of infrastructure services and 330
housing units at Morgen Village.

goddamn DA:bash:

HOW DARE THEY!!

terrible:ohno:

How many informal settlements are they around Cape Town?

including or excluding bellvile?

Including it.

Jeez... difficult to calculate as there are small ones scattered in numerous places, but the main ones are.

N2 side of Langa,
N2 side of Nyanga and Gugulethu
N2 side of Khayaletshia
a few in Phillippi
Mfuleni near Eersterivier
Vryegrond near Capricorn
areas of Marconi Beam near Montaque Gardens
Du Noon in Killarney

I think thats going to be the case with every big city...

There are the few really big informal settlements... but there are hundreds of little ones scattered all over the place in whatever emtpy land the guys find.

R250m mall hailed as opening new chapter for Khayelitsha

April 28, 2009 Edition 2

Aziz Hartley

THE Khayelitsha Development Forum has welcomed the development of a R250-million shopping mall that is to adjoin a railway station and accommodate big and small businesses.

The brainchild of Khayelitsha developer Jali Bakoro, the Nonqubela Link Mall is to offer shoppers a complex similar to the Vangate Mall in Athlone and Liberty Promenade in Mitchells Plain.

"We are very excited. Other shopping complexes in Khayelitsha fall short of what can be seen elsewhere," Khayelitsha Development Forum chairman Zamayedwua Sogayise said.

"What we like most about this Nonqubela Link Mall is that tenancy is provided for big retailers, medium-sized business and small vendors. We like the concept of integration.

"Also, the mall is close to the day hospital and municipal offices."

Sogayise said that unlike the Khayelitsha Mall, the complex - being built adjoining the Nonqubela railway station - would be fully enclosed.

"Many people complain about the Khayelitsha Mall being open, too small," Sogayise said.

"I would not be surprised if, when this complex is finished, the Khayelitsha Mall is upgraded. This will bring a new dimension for developments here."

Bakoro said about 400 jobs would be created during construction and 800 more when the project was completed and businesses took occupation.

The mall would be 30 000m2 and include a fashion court, big stores and banks.

"Part of the train station is inside. Residents will no longer have to travel to Bellville or Mitchells Plain if they want to shop, meet or sit down for coffee or a meal," Bakoro said.

"This mall will offer them a (place) to socialise in the way people do at Cavendish Square. It will also help eradicate a perception that Khayelitsha is a dysfunctional community."

Bakoro said completion of the mall was expected in November.

"Khayelitsha is not regarded as attractive to investors," he said.

"There are security problems, but they are not insurmountable. Once we start giving the community more of these projects, the people of Khayelitsha can take some pride in their area."

Former city councillor Masizole Mnqasela said the development would be a catalyst for investments in Khayelitsha, stimulating economic growth.

"Economic growth will result in job creation," he said

"In Khayelitsha there is an unemployment rate of about 40% and poverty is rife. This project is good news because our community does not have quality facilities. I'm pleased to see there is someone committed to his community."

aziz.hartley@inl.co.za

New Khayelitsha Hospital

Contract name: KHAYELITSHA HOSPITAL:
CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW 230 BED HOSPITAL

Location: Khayelitsha, Cape Town
Client: Department of Public Works
Architect: ACG Architects
Consulting engineer: Manong & Associates
Quantity surveyor: Ngenu & Associates
Value: R460-million
Start: February 2009
Completion: February 2012
Contracts manager: Paul Lowe
Business unit: Group Five Building Western Cape

http://freespacemodels.co.za/images/models/1a.jpg
http://freespacemodels.co.za/images/models/1b.jpg
http://freespacemodels.co.za/images/models/1c.jpg
http://freespacemodels.co.za/images/models/1d.jpg
http://freespacemodels.co.za/images/models/1e.jpg

Have they started construction?

^^ Look how much the DA government hate the poor, look how racist they are!!! :ohno: New shopping centres in Khayelitsha, new urban renewal programs and public spaces, new sport centres, upgraded public transport interchanges, new hospitals...

Yes, keep marching, keep digging up Lansdowne Rd, we know who's behind it all! Go on DA, keep doing "nothing" in the Cape Flats.

^^ Look how much the DA government hate the poor, look how racist they are!!! :ohno: New shopping centres in Khayelitsha, new urban renewal programs and public spaces, new sport centres, upgraded public transport interchanges, new hospitals...

Yes, keep marching, keep digging up Lansdowne Rd, we know who's behind it all! Go on DA, keep doing "nothing" in the Cape Flats.


SPEECH BY HELEN ZILLE
MAYOR OF CAPE TOWN
FOR THE KHAYELITSHA DEVELOPMENT FORUM COUNCIL MEETING

The City is committed to improving services and infrastructure in Khayelitsha. We want use our municipal projects to encourage economic growth, job creation and improved standards of living in your community.

One of the signs that the local economy is growing here is the commercial development that can be seen in the CBD and other areas.
We are trying to encourage this wherever we can, through projects like the Nonkqubela Informal Trading Market, the Vuyani, Kuyasa and Site C Meat Markets, and the Khayelitsha Training Centre. The Training centre includes Business Hives and a Digital Business Centre which gives local businesses access to electronic resources for marketing and networking.

In Harare we are investing R14 million in the Score Square between now and mid 2009 under the City’s Violence Prevention Through Urban Upgrade (VPUU).

Another crucial infrastructure project we are working on for the economic development of Khayelitsha and the improvement of living conditions is the rail extension and the Kuyasa Transport Interchange, which is part of the VPUU and Urban Renewal Project (URP).

Over the next three years we will spend R300 million on the rail extension’s Kuyasa interchange, which will include a new taxi rank and bus station, together with infrastructure for commercial outlets.

Several other important developments on the rail extension are also nearly completed, including several road and pedestrian bridges, a new connecting road network that the City has built, and two new stations.

We are improving road networks and related infrastructure in other parts of the community as well, such as the Pama Road development due to be completed by the end of 2009, to improve access and efficiency, and investors.

I must emphasise that the City does not support the toll road being proposed for the N2 near Khayelitsha by national government agency SANRAL.

Returning to key projects in the year ahead, the City will be supporting major commercial events like the Khayelitsha Festival, which is to be held in October or November this year at the Oliver Tambo Hall.

It will provide small enterprises in Khayelitsha with a number of opportunities to generate income and build a profile.

One of the City’s priorities is to encourage the tourism industry in this community, which is one of Cape Town’s major sources of income in places like the Atlantic Sea Board, the Southern Peninsula and Strand.

To this end, we are investing in a tourism centre and facilities in Look Out Hill, upgrading the Khayelitsha Wetlands Park, the FIFA Hope Centre in Harare (under the VPUU programme) and renovating facilities at Monwabisi.

I am very excited about the work that is starting at Monwabisi – we have been allocated about R100 million from Treasury under the URP and VPUU to transform this beautiful stretch of coastline into a major tourist attraction and recreation area for the local community. This beach is an untapped gold mine of tourist potential.

In order to ensure that our projects and municipal services in Khayelitsha are well managed, we are also preparing to establish new Municipal Offices in the Business District.

We have also provided new municipal facilities for community use in the form the CBD and Eyethu Multi-purpose Centres (together costing the City R40 million), which are almost complete.

For Site C we are also planning various community based initiatives over and above existing fire safety and emergency programmes, including interventions to support victims of violence, prevent crime and assist the youth with access to new opportunities. These include the development of partnerships with NGOs for anti-rape support services, legal advice services, talent exchange systems, community patrols and training of conflict mediators in Schools.

But the City is also committed to meeting its constitutional obligation to provide access to water, sanitation and shelter for the poorest residents of this community, and we have nearly R500 million on the coming annual budget for this purpose.

We want to ensure that more residents have access to basic services. Our Informal Settlement Upgrade Master Plan commits the City to providing basic services to all 40 informal areas of Khayelitsha by 2010, including one standpipe for every 25 homes, community based distribution and collection of black bags, area cleaning, flood or street lighting and pre-paid electrical connections. However, the good news is that about 30 of the 40 areas will have these by the end of this year, and only four areas (Nyebelele, MM1 Section, QA Section and Masikhule) will have to wait until the end of next year.

A particular challenge for us is to ensure that more residents have access to electricity.For this reason, we are working very hard to have the existing high masts in Khayelitsha connected to the Eskom grid. We held a meeting on Friday (9th of May 2008) to finalize the Enkanini masts and I will keep pressure on Eskom to deliver on this. The City has ordered at least another three masts for this particular project to ensure safety and security as the electrification of this area by Eskom is still some time away.

In terms of waste removal, in the formal areas of Khayelitsha, we will be introducing a new community based system of area cleaning this year, which is about to go out to tender. Suburbs such as Ekuphumeleni, Graceland, Griiffiths Mxenge, Harare, Illitha Park, Khaya, Kuyasa, Mandela Park and Umrhabulo Triangle will be serviced by 70 full time labourers recruited from the community to clean the streets and open spaces in the formal areas.

Finally, looking at housing, we are trying to do something for as many people as possible, rather than a lot for a well-connected few, which has created so many problems with the National and Provincial controlled N2 Gateway Project.

Our top priority is getting housing beneficiaries onto serviced sites and giving them security of tenure. We want people to own the ground they live on, so that they can take pride in it, develop it, and even use it to get credit to start businesses if possible.

In projects currently underway, we are delivering thousands of housing opportunities. Silvertown has already created 1200 opportunities.
Nonquebela Phase 2 will deliver 1000 sites. In various parts of Site C, Imbokotho Emnyama and Intsika we will be delivering about 2000 units in the years ahead.

And by the end of 2009 we will have delivered 1500 opportunities in Enkanini. In the medium term I am also very optimistic about the prospects of several major new housing developments we are considering for the Khayelithsa area, although the plans are still being finalised.

The main hurdles we face when it comes to housing are a serious shortage of suitable land for housing, and the red tape created by environmental laws and Province’s refusal to grant us housing accreditation.

^^ See, look, she absolutely hates them. DA completely neglects the poor! :lol:

It's interesting how some people in other parts of this forum say the DA "looks after their own", but after reading the above, I have a real hard time believing that.

I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to South African politics, but I really have not seen or read anything that proves the DA purposely neglects the poor. Am I missing something?

Nice hospital btw! :applause:

^^ No you're not... it's politicking and electioneering by other parties, like the ANC and sometimes even the ID and COPE elude to it, that play on fears of people and falsely state the DA is an "Apartheid Party." Which it could never be... it's leader, Helen Zille, was a campaigner for Black Sash under Apartheid, and she was hated by the then Nationalist government, as she was a liberal anti-Apartheid journalist for a persecuted independent newspaper, the Rand Daily Mail. The leader of the DA actually has decent struggle credentials.

.....sacarcism, theatrics, drama, posturing, sensationalism, arrogance and ignorance.....typical on the daily menu of the so-called new Rainbow nation........everybody has their own drama and theatre......like a never ending story, we went from a country that lived under real fear of Apartheid nazi government to a country that lives under fear of itself.......there is so much anxiety and depression in SA......its amazing that we don't have an alcoholic crisis considering the amount of wine we produce...... the whole country needs to be on Prosac.......i wonder when the day will come when we can all take a deep breath and relax......we have a great country and yet we are such a miserable nation......seriously, my happiness is not determined by Zille or Zuma.....i don't think the future of my family is in the hands of the DA or the ANC.......service delivery is not an ANC/DA monopoly game.....its not a black or white issue.....its a matter of dignity.......

...we have a great country and yet we are such a miserable nation......seriously, my happiness is not determined by Zille or Zuma.....i don't think the future of my family is in the hands of the DA or the ANC.......service delivery is not an ANC/DA monopoly game.....its not a black or white issue.....its a matter of dignity.......

:applause:


If we can live by that mentality, we can together achieve great things.

^^ Agreed. An accountable, responsible and constitutional government helps tremendously. However, the future of South Africa is primarily in the hands of its citizens, not its government. And, our day to day happiness is in our own hands.

.....sacarcism, theatrics, drama, posturing, sensationalism, arrogance and ignorance.....typical on the daily menu of the so-called new Rainbow nation........everybody has their own drama and theatre......like a never ending story, we went from a country that lived under real fear of Apartheid nazi government to a country that lives under fear of itself.......there is so much anxiety and depression in SA......its amazing that we don't have an alcoholic crisis considering the amount of wine we produce...... the whole country needs to be on Prosac.......i wonder when the day will come when we can all take a deep breath and relax......we have a great country and yet we are such a miserable nation......seriously, my happiness is not determined by Zille or Zuma.....i don't think the future of my family is in the hands of the DA or the ANC.......service delivery is not an ANC/DA monopoly game.....its not a black or white issue.....its a matter of dignity.......

a good start would be to change your signature too...rather let's say "yes we can despite it all"

a good start would be to change your signature too...rather let's say "yes we can despite it all"
True, that signature is making a positive move with a negative statement. Rather try a positive move with a positive statement... may give people the completely wrong and overly-skewed impression of South African society.

Two new stations opened in Khayelitsha

By Cindy Witten
10 June 2009

Metrorail is proud to announce the opening of two new train stations in Khayelitsha. Kuyasa and Chris Hani stations started operating on Monday morning.

“Kuyasa and Chris Hani stations is an extension of the Khayelitsha line and forms part of a Presidential Urban Renewal Programme,” said Metro Rail spokesperson Riana Scott.

The Urban Renewal Programme (URP) forms part of a national urban renewal strategy that was announced by former President Mbeki in his State of the Nation address in February 2001.

Metrorail says that this project is to “enable systematic and sustained interventions to alleviate poverty and significantly address under-development and socio-economic exclusion in Khayelitsha and Mitchell's Plain”.

“We are very happy to say that the two stations are open for operations and the community is thankful that they’ve got an alternative form of transport.”

A single Metro ticket for trains travelling from Cape Town to either Kuyasa or Chris Hani Stations costs R7.30, while a single Metro ticket between Khayelitsha Station and Kuyasa or Chris Hani Stations sells for R4.20

This is suppose to be development - no I'm sorry. This is a disgrace and not fit for living in. People who justify this sort of building should be shot. There would be an uproar if animals in a zoo where put into something like this. NO! We can be deeply, deeply ashamed of this.
http://web.capetown.gov.za/WCMS/images/2822008152021.jpg
http://web.capetown.gov.za/WCMS/images/1192007110111.jpg

not a tree or blade of grass in sight and the roads are already covered with sand. Why would they bother putting something like this up? We should force every leader of South Africa and each member of parliament to live in one of these houses with family while in office. I am so ashamed that my country can even think that building something like this can be justified.
http://web.capetown.gov.za/WCMS/images/11920071059481.jpg

Just a few million on irrigation, semi mature trees and natural grasses areas would change the lok and feel of the place.

I agree it looks shit but at least its a roof over their heads and provides some dignatly and respectabilty. We are not going to build 4 million houses over night and at the same time these are tax payer funder houses

Why don't they build flats instead? I would think that if you built a quality highrise flat that can be striped down in about 10 or 15 years and revamped - that it would work out cheaper down the line?

A nice 30+ story flat cluster that is WELL managed and surrounded by park areas and lots of trees. Oh hell ... let me dream! A high rise residential park divided up into small flats that can be gutted in a decade or two and bigger appartments put in when we will need more space for working families with children.

I know I'm a dreamer.

Why don't they build flats instead? I would think that if you built a quality highrise flat that can be striped down in about 10 or 15 years and revamped - that it would work out cheaper down the line?

A nice 30+ story flat cluster that is WELL managed and surrounded by park areas and lots of trees. Oh hell ... let me dream! A high rise residential park divided up into small flats that can be gutted in a decade or two and bigger appartments put in when we will need more space for working families with children.

I know I'm a dreamer.

In time they will be forced to head this route but as far as I know, taller buildings cost more.

I've been thinking the same thing. They're starting to do that now, finally, but it's on such a small scale.

They could do like in Holland and make flats up from containers piled up on each other, which would be much cheaper, but this would only be possible for families without children. Although I think that high density, brings more crime to that zone. For here in France the most dangerous zones are the high density ones.
http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/keetwonen2.jpg
http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/keetwonen1.jpg
Just look at this site and see what we can be doing with containers, which is a rather cheap solution. http://www.fabprefab.com/fabfiles/containerbayhome.htm
I think I'm going to open my construction firm of this type in South Africa, for it surely will have success. Well that's just me dreaming. But if there is anybody here with cash, I really think it would be a good investment for them.

Definitely crime but at least it wont be spread over the huge space that tiny low cost houses take up.

They have these here in SA already. I know the guy who has the contract for them. They will be used for accommodation at universities.

... and they also have "plug n play" electro, water and sanitation.

http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/keetwonen1.jpg
http://www.fabprefab.com/fabfiles/containerbayhome.htm

... and they also have "plug n play" electro, water and sanitation.

http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/keetwonen1.jpg
http://www.fabprefab.com/fabfiles/containerbayhome.htm

it looks really nice, could really work for campus accomodation

^^That's what the photo really is.

The flats will end up looking worse when they decide to start hanging laundry from the balconies and windows etc. Flats, too, will need their surroundings landscaped.

We can't expect the government to build much in the beginning. Remember - there's a backlog of people. For any extra money a house may cost, that's more time someone else will have to wait to get theirs due to budget constraints.

All the government needs to do is landscape these areas and make sure they're well-kept. They wouldn't look half as bad with green grass and trees. It's the sand everywhere that makes it look terrible. When it rains it looks even worse and turns into one big mud pit.

The flats will end up looking worse when they decide to start hanging laundry from the balconies and windows etc. Flats, too, will need their surroundings landscaped.

We can't expect the government to build much in the beginning. Remember - there's a backlog of people. For any extra money a house may cost, that's more time someone else will have to wait to get theirs due to budget constraints.

All the government needs to do is landscape these areas and make sure they're well-kept. They wouldn't look half as bad with green grass and trees. It's the sand everywhere that makes it look terrible. When it rains it looks even worse and turns into one big mud pit.

Here in France and Portugal its not permitted to hang laundry from the window or balcony for it damages the facades and people who pass underneave will recieve water drops. I think South africa also should prohibite this. If people want to dry their laundry they can put the most a wire in the balcony for so, like this when the water drops, it will be in their balcony.

Makes sense.

Quinta Monroy / Elemental


31
Dec 2008

By Nico Saieh (http://www.archdaily.com/author/nicosaieh/) — Filed under: Housing (http://www.archdaily.com/category/housing/) , Selected (http://www.archdaily.com/category/selected/) , Alejandro Aravena (http://www.archdaily.com/tag/alejandro-aravena/), Brick (http://www.archdaily.com/tag/brick/), Chile (http://www.archdaily.com/tag/chile/), Concrete (http://www.archdaily.com/tag/concrete/), Social Housing (http://www.archdaily.com/tag/social-housing/)

http://www.archdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/384421428_qm-03-before-c2a9cristobal-palma-528x420.jpg
Architects: Elemental (http://www.elementalchile.cl/) - Alejandro Aravena, Alfonso Montero, Tomás Cortese, Emilio de la Cerda
Location: Iquique, Chile.
Client: Gobierno regional de Tarapacá / Programa Chile-Barrio del Gobierno de Chile.
Engineering: Juan Carlos de la Llera & José Gajardo.
Contractor and Services: Proingel, Abraham Guerra, Constructora Loga S.A.
Budget: US $204 /sqm
Project Year: 2003
Construction Year: 2004
Execution time: 9 months
Materials: Concrete & Cement bricks
Site Area: 5000 sqm
Constructed Area: 3500 sqm
Photographs: Elemental (http://www.elementalchile.cl/) - Cristóbal Palma (http://www.cristobalpalma.com/) - Tadeuz Jalocha
http://www.archdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/2051806284_qm-04-after-c2a9cristobal-palma-125x125.jpg (http://www.archdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/2051806284_qm-04-after-c2a9cristobal-palma.jpg) http://www.archdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/62568078_qm-04-before-c2a9elemental-125x125.jpg (http://www.archdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/62568078_qm-04-before-c2a9elemental.jpg) http://www.archdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/835614545_qm-01-before-c2a9tadeuz-jalocha-125x125.jpg (http://www.archdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/835614545_qm-01-before-c2a9tadeuz-jalocha.jpg) http://www.archdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/1711995108_qm-02-after-c2a9cristobal-palma-125x125.jpg (http://www.archdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/1711995108_qm-02-after-c2a9cristobal-palma.jpg)

The Chilean Government asked us to resolve the following equation:
To settle the 100 families of the Quinta Monroy, in the same 5,000 sqm site that they have illegally occupied for the last 30 years which is located in the very center of Iquique, a city in the Chilean desert.
We had to work within the framework of the current Housing Policy, using a US$ 7,500 subsidy with which we had to pay for the land, the infrastructure and the architecture. Considering the current values in the Chilean building industry, US$ 7,500 allows for just around 30 sqm of built space.
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And despite the site’s price (3 times more than what social housing can normally afford) the aim was to settle the families in the same site, instead of displacing them to the periphery.
If to answer the question, one starts assuming 1 house = 1 family = 1 lot, we were able to host just 30 families in the site. The problem with isolated houses, is that they are very inefficient in terms of land use. That is why social housing tends to look for land that costs as little as possible. That land, is normally far away from the opportunities of work, education, transportation and health that cities offer. This way of operating has tended to localize social housing in an impoverished urban sprawl, creating belts of resentment, social conflict and inequity.
http://www.archdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/842801821_quinta-monroy-iquique-c2a9cristobal-palma-tadeuz-jalocha-528x300.jpg (http://www.archdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/842801821_quinta-monroy-iquique-c2a9cristobal-palma-tadeuz-jalocha.jpg)
If to try to make a more efficient use of the land, we worked with row houses, even if we reduced the width of the lot until making it coincident with the width of the house, and furthermore, with the width of a room, we were able to host just 66 families. The problem with this type is that whenever a family wants to add a new room, it blocks access to light and ventilation of previous rooms. Moreover it compromises privacy because circulation has to be done through other rooms. What we get then, instead of efficiency, is overcrowding and promiscuity.
Finally, we could have gone for the high-rise building, which is very efficient in terms of land use, but this type blocks expansions and here we needed that every house could at least double the initial built space.
SO, WHAT TO DO?

http://www.archdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/835614545_qm-01-before-c2a9tadeuz-jalocha-528x359.jpg (http://www.archdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/835614545_qm-01-before-c2a9tadeuz-jalocha.jpg)
Our first task was to find a new way of looking at the problem, shifting our mindset from the scale of the best possible US$ 7,500 object to be multiplied a 100 times, to the scale of the best possible US$ 750,000 building capable of accommodating 100 families and their expansions.
But we saw that a building blocks expansions; that is true, except on the ground and the top floor. So, we worked in a building that had just the ground and top floor.
WHAT IS OUR POINT?

We think that social housing should be seen as an investment and not as an expense. So we had to make that the initial subsidy can add value over time. All of us, when buying a house expect it to increase its value. But social housing, in an unacceptable proportion, is more similar to buy a car than to buy a house; every day, its value decreases.
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It is very important to correct this, because Chile will spend 10 billion dollars in the next 20 years to overcome the housing deficit. But also at the small family scale, the housing subsidy received from the State will be, by far, the biggest aid ever. So, if that subsidy can add value over time, it could mean the key turning point to leave poverty.
We in Elemental have identified a set of design conditions through which a housing unit can increase its value over time; this without having to increase the amount of money of the current subsidy.
In first place, we had to achieve enough density, (but without overcrowding), in order to be able to pay for the site, which because of its location was very expensive. To keep the site, meant to maintain the network of opportunities that the city offered and therefore to strengthen the family economy; on the other hand, good location is the key to increase a property value.
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Second, the provision a physical space for the “extensive family” to develop, has proved to be a key issue in the economical take off of a poor family. In between the private and public space, we introduced the collective space, conformed by around 20 families. The collective space (a common property with restricted access) is an intermediate level of association that allows surviving fragile social conditions.
Third, due to the fact that 50% of each unit’s volume, will eventually be self-built, the building had to be porous enough to allow each unit to expand within its structure. The initial building must therefore provide a supporting, (rather than a constraining) framework in order to avoid any negative effects of self-construction on the urban environment over time, but also to facilitate the expansion process.
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Finally, instead a designing a small house (in 30 sqm everything is small), we provided a middle-income house, out of which we were giving just a small part now. This meant a change in the standard: kitchens, bathrooms, stairs, partition walls and all the difficult parts of the house had to be designed for final scenario of a 72 sqm house.
In the end, when the given money is enough for just half of the house, the key question is, which half do we do. We choose to make the half that a family individually will never be able to achieve on its own, no matter how much money, energy or time they spend. That is how we expect to contribute using architectural tools, to non-architectural questions, in this case, how to overcome poverty.
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Khayelitsha moving into the limelight

25 Feb 2010

Once a convenient apartheid era dumping ground on the windswept Cape Flats for displaced black people, Khayelitsha is undergoing a metamorphosis, thanks to the R1.5-billion Urban Renewal Project that is slowly changing the area.
With projects that include a new hospital, a new court complex, government offices and rail extensions into previously unserviced areas of the sprawling township, Khayelitsha is finally coming into its own.
And with a flourishing central business district and an increasing number of jobs being created as a result of new investments, it’s not surprising that the property market is starting to take off in some areas.
Much of the development is happening around the Khayelitsha Mall, which opened in 2005, and includes a new magistrate’s court and new premises for the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Social Development.
Better known to outsiders for its burgeoning informal settlements and poor living conditions of its residents, there is now a growing demand for formal houses.
“There is a very high demand at the moment for houses in Khayelitsha and it is still continuing to rise,” said Peter Sonwabiso, owner of Peter’s Properties.
“The reasons for the rise in housing demand are the developments happening in the area, and the mall and the government departments have brought job opportunities for people, which mean they are seeking places to live.”
And, said Sonwabiso, with the number of job opportunities expected to increase, the demand for housing will rise as people seek to cut their travel costs by looking for work closer to their homes.
In Khayelitsha’s Mandela Park, where a large amount of Urban Renewal Project (URP) investment is taking place, property development company Nation Housing is offering new two- and three-bedroom houses, ranging in price from R307 000 to R417 000.
“We’ve been building houses in Khayelitsha for the past 10 years and we have built about 600 houses around the area,” said Nation Housing marketing manager Paul Winter.
“So far in Mandela Park, where the (URP) developments are happening, we have built 65 houses - and with the demand for housing we are sure that the number will increase,” said Winter.
And there are many more projects on the cards for Khayelitsha, according to the City of Cape Town URP Manager Patrick Nqadini.
“There are quite number of planned interventions for Khayelitsha, including the upgrading of Monwabisi beach and resort, the upgrading of the Look-Out Hill and a golf driving range, and the development of Site C and the upgrading of Khayelitsha’s informal settlement areas.”
Small business has also not been overlooked.
Khayelitsha Development Forum (KDF) chairman Zamayedwa Sogayise said there was also a focus on the economic development of residents.“We have started by building formal spaza shops for those in business, to help them grow their businesses.”
There were also plans to build a fruit and vegetable market so locals did not have to travel to other areas for supplies, he said. – West Cape News

Nice! Township areas has good development opportunities.. The Growth of Middle class will see another housing boom in the near future! I must say tho, they should start to build higher density housings in the cities since public transport is improving. High density housing not only saves up land and its also more safe because neighbours can watch over each other. It will also make public transport economically viable so the city or transport company can have the capital to invest in improving the system.

Khayelitsha

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_T50LFcjsDhs/S6PgB7AvxkI/AAAAAAAAA60/hIlfh1mjkaI/P3160003.JPGhttp://lh3.ggpht.com/_T50LFcjsDhs/S6PgGysA0_I/AAAAAAAAA64/Ja2T7PCCUSI/P3160006.JPG

^^ Two or three years ago, this was totally a different sight!! GO CAPE TOWN!!! :)

*blinks hard*

That's Khayelitsha now?

Seriously?

What the place needs now is some big trees, filling in a few gaps, a school or two, Maybe a few 3-4 story walkups......nobody is gonna mistake that for the wealthier suburbs, but that's damn sure better than a shantytown. Well done to Cape Town and the people that live in it. :)

^^ The DA is Racist! :lol: :lol: :lol:

That is amazing! I wonder if they are gonna keep the flood lights? Looks a bit odd now. I think the reason for there being no trees is because of people cutting them down for firewood? Would be better if there were though.

Just to make it clear there were no hidden intentions/agenda when adding the images.

I just feel like our images are mainly of the CBD when there is more to Cape Town.

Just to make it clear there were no hidden intentions/agenda when adding the images.

I just feel like our images are mainly of the CBD when there is more to Cape Town.

For sure, this is definately one of the best 'township' areas around Cape Town. The rest are still very scary, just like the rest of SA.

That is amazing! I wonder if they are gonna keep the flood lights? Looks a bit odd now. I think the reason for there being no trees is because of people cutting them down for firewood? Would be better if there were though.

So find and plant trees that are not suitable for drying and burning, wattle for example, Im sure annman has a few ideas up his sleeve

^^ True. Maybe it's something else. Any ideas annman?

apart the obvious WIND

Whats wind got to do with it. Theres many other places in CT with high winds and lots of trees. I think it has more to do with the soil/sand in the area.

WATTLES! Are you loco!!!??? :crazy: Those are noxious invaders, and they make great firewood.

But, the geography of the area is very problematic, as the sandy soil does hamper tree growth... most of the Cape Flats was always lowland Fynbos or Renosterveld, so nothing taller than about 2m tall. However, with people living there now, it NEEDS trees, to create a sustainable and welcoming built-environment. The soil will need supplemental material to help trees grow there.

Although... residents will cut down trees if they're remotely useful.

Thus, the following may work:

Tamboti Spirostachys africana will definitely work... a deciduous tree up to 18m tall, can thrive in even brackish soil, so may grow well on the Cape Flats. And, number one good trait: They are HIGHLY poisonous. Africans from up north leave these trees alone.

Obviously Oleander will work too, lots of flowers, very hardy, but extremely poisonous. I may recommend some acacia species, but the problem is the leaves are very palatable. Thus, despite the thorns, imagine the residents will cut them down to feed urban livestock.

wattle smattle just thinking, something has to be done but yes the wind on the flats is problomatic unless trees are attempted to be planted on the leeward side of properties to give them some protection. Oleander is a terrible plant and I fight its use here in Dubai in residential areas due to its poison.

Must be more that can grow, Palms like washingtonias?

^^ Palms may work... problem is, palms do not offer much shade or shelter and their "human value" is not very high, they also offer negligible wind-reduction; although maybe that is all that will work aesthetically was well as being undesirable for firewood. Problem with these areas is, unless a tree is poisonous, they WILL use it for their own benefit and leave the community treeless. I would prefer lovely trees here like Oaks, Maples, Yellowwoods, Stinkwoods, Bushwillows, Liquidambars etc., but the people will likely have their way with them.

Argh, palms :puke:

^^LOL!

I'm with annman on this one, think palms are the best bet. They have Royal Palms lining the streets of Phalaborwa an they look very nice. Example below (obviously not Phalaborwa)

http://floridaroyalpalm.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/7-768x1024.jpg

^^ palms are on the I hate side of the line. Oliander isnt great either cos it is to easy for it to poison someone without them realising. dont know what else, maybe fruit trees if you can persuade people to let them grow and just take the fruit but I dont know thats probably been optemistic unless you can create a community sense of ownership.

^^ That picture is taken in Florida!!! :) Recognize that state anywhere. But, yes, the Cuban Royal Palm is one of the prettiest species... but, don't thrive in the Cape, our winter's are too long. The only palms that grow well here are Queen Palms, Canary Island Palms and Mexican Fan Palms, and they're all pretty generic and not anything remarkable.

But, honestly, I'm also not a huge fan of palms, unless their along a seaside promenade or lining a beachside etc. I prefer broadleaved trees. They are generally of more benefit to humans in an urban environment and deciduous species are particularly beneficial here in southern SA (for comfort and energy conservation), as it allows for maximum winter sunlight and maximum summer shade.

Id rather have palms than no trees which is what it boils down to, I remember taking off in Dec and looking down and thinking fuck me its barren down there, also zero community parks where trees are protected. I see they have planted trees along the N" next to those 3 story jobbies, what are those?

Love the Tambotieboom! Apparently they're only really Toxic when burned (which is a big plus) and the sap is poisonous (much like the Frangipani).

Their fruity seeds also often 'jump' in hot weather because its usually has some weird larvae in them.

http://img2.photographersdirect.com/img/12366/wm/pd1922468.jpg

‘Cape Town is coming of age’
12 Jul 2010

The urban regeneration that has been talked about in recent years is gathering momentum as residential properties in Cape Town’s CBD are being snapped up at top dollar, with some apartments being sold for more than R9m.

Mary Bailey, owner of Morning Star Properties, which specialises in inner city real estate, said the last five years, and particularly the last six months, have seen the area’s popularity sky-rocket. Sales in the previously deserted area are “unprecedented”, with apartment prices outstripping those of properties in surrounding neighbourhoods and fast approaching those of properties in the Atlantic Seaboard.

“It’s fascinating to see what’s happening here. Five years ago nobody wanted to think about living here. But there has been a huge capital injection in the area and it has become so safe and very vibrant. We are totally sold out, it’s totally unprecedented,” said Bailey, whose offices are on the newly gentrified Church Square, on the doorstep of Parliament and the Company Gardens.

She said properties were being bought by “high quality buyers” – professionals, foreign investors, and international students, looking for the larger spaces of old buildings. Despite rental prices reaching up to R18k and sales between R6m and R9m, she said the company receives enquiries daily. “It is becoming like any other big city, look at New York and London.”

A Rawson’s agent who wished not to be named said the flood of people into the city centre, which intensified remarkably in November last year, also had to do with a desire to save time and fuel by living closer to work. He said properties in the city were in such high demand that they are sold within two days of being put on the market.

Richard Paradise, an agent for Remax’s Atlantic Seaboard division, said although the coastal area was still the most popular, prices in the CBD were not much lower, and while last year was “very tough”, the R10m plus market had remained “pretty buoyant”.

Theodore Yach, property developer, founder member of the Cape Town City Partnership and chairperson of its Central City Improvement District, said the popularity that is evident now is not a sudden phenomenon but the returns on investments made nearly two decades ago.

“What you are seeing now is a maturing of the market. The private sector invested about R25bn in the area and the public sector about R14bn. It was huge investment and it’s taken 15 years to get here – although there is still a lot of work to be done,” said Yach.

“Cape Town is coming of age,” he said. – Caitlin Ross, West Cape News

Site C in Khayelitsha to benefit from major upgrading project

MEDIA RELEASE
NO. 805 / 2010
01 NOVEMBER 2010


The City has finalised a study and feasibility plan to upgrade the Western Gateway Institutional Precinct of Khayelitsha, which will see this part of Khayelitsha receive exciting new developments that will benefit all residents of the area.

The Western Gateway Institutional Precinct is situated in the western part of Site C, alongside Lansdowne Road, where the sports fields for Site C are.

The purpose of the Precinct Framework Plan is to provide a holistic development vision for the area and to identify projects that can be implemented. This provides the City with design guidelines which will assist in planning a phased approach to the upgrade and development of the site over time. Community and stakeholder participation is seen to be a very important element of the process and will continue during further planning and implementation processes.

According to Astrid von Brucken from the City’s Spatial Planning and Urban Design Department, the study undertaken by her Department was funded by the City’s Urban Renewal Programme (URP).

The Precinct Framework supports the Violence Prevention through Urban Upgrades (VPUU) methodology and the VPUU’s Urban Design Principles for Safe Neighbourhoods. The VPUU is a partnership between the City of Cape Town, the German Development Bank (KfW) and the community of Khayelitsha.

Strategic partnerships have also been developed between the VPUU, Provincial and National Departments, civil society and the private sector. These partnerships are important in ensuring sustainable, integrated and democratically agreed upon projects for the Site C community.

“The Precinct Framework Plan sets out a logical ordering for the area incorporating public structure, built form, green systems, the movement network, and safety aspects of both day and night activities. The plan also recommends a facility for adult-based education and training (ABET) and/or a Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Development (ECD), which will be important institutional facilities in the Site C area”, said Alderman Brian Watkyns, Chairperson of the Planning and Environment Portfolio Committee.

Combined with this, there is an opportunity to create sports academies such as a boxing or martial arts centre, owing to the local interest in these sports.This could be feasible with youth development organizations involved in using and managing such a facility. There are also possibilities for cricket or football associations working hand-in-hand with youth groups such as Football for Hope or Grassroots Soccer.

The Precinct Framework comprises of the following:

• A public park with a public cultural facility, an indoor facility, institutional facility, kick-about fields and landscaping is proposed to be located in the southern end of the sports stadium site.

• This public park and associated facilities will break down the existing barrier and allow pedestrian and non-motorised transport access, which will be crucial to the success of creating a positive and safe environment.

• A vehicular and pedestrian access system is proposed to be situated between the sports stadium site and Encotsheni Primary School.

• An ‘active sport’ facility is proposed along this route. This could be a swimming pool.

• Mixed-use development, comprising a residential component is proposed along the eastern and western boundaries of the site.

• Open ‘field’ space is considered for multi-purpose opportunities between the various sporting facilities.

• The existing sports stadium building will be transformed into a double-sided facility, which could potentially house a sporting academy (dependent on interested bodies).

• It is proposed that Encotsheni Primary School upgrades the current underutilized school sports filed with an associated building facility which creates income-generating opportunities.


END

ISSUED BY:
COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT, CITY OF CAPE TOWN

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
ASTRID VON BRUCKEN
SPATIAL PLANNING & URBAN DESIGN DEPARTMENT
TEL: 021 400 9442 CELL 082 337 9541

Muizenberg conversion grinds to halt
11 Jan 2011

Plans to convert a derelict Muizenberg property into a paradise for holidaymakers and investors have come to a halt as the developers await planning approval from the Cape Town council.

The R10-million Le Diamante project set out to transform a building opposite the Muizenberg station that was occupied by 23 migrant families into an affordable residential block.

However, the block is opposite the station and has no sea views, making it a more difficult to sell.

Le Diamante was supposed to be completed in just three months and many people thought that the resurrection of the old Cape Sands building would kick-start transformation initiatives in the seaside suburb.

The block was advertised as having a gym, sauna and facilities for an on-site beauty therapist.

However, Chris Taylor, appointed by the Muizenberg Improvement District to advise on problem buildings, described the Le Diamante project as being over-ambitious as there were 42 flats in the block but just 19 parking spots available for residents.

In terms of the council’s bylaws there must be a minimum of one-and-a-half parking bays for each flat in a block.

The sectional title apartments were advertised at prices starting at R795k but these prices have apparently fallen slightly since the project was launched. Pam Golding Properties, responsible for selling the apartments, has not sold any units in the building yet.

According to Taylor there are between 15 and 20 buildings in the Muizenberg area that are currently being revamped. For instance the restoration of the old Empire Building and Kneads bakery and delicatessen had been completed and work on other buildings was underway.

Muizenberg has been battling to shed its reputation as a crime-and-grime suburb and the renovation of many of the older buildings, particularly those along Beach Road would help to encourage investors to consider the suburb as a viable investment area

Billions to re-develop Cape Town

05 Apr 2011


A major regeneration plan for six precincts in Cape Town will include water taxis at Athlone, the refurbishment of Valkenberg Hospital and the possible development of a waterfront casino at the V&A.

The multi-billion project may include a second international airport being built outside the city at Saldanha Bay.

The six precincts are:

- Artscape – which will include the expanded Cape Town International Convention Centre and the area around the Artscape Theatre. About R4,5-billion has been earmarked for this project.

- Somerset – centred around the Somerset Hospital,has still to be finalised but includes the expansion and development of the area across the road from the Waterfront. A new casino is likely to be built in this precinct.

- Prestwich Street – which will include plans to link the city with the Waterfront using a pedestrian route. This precinct is likely to focus on high-rise developments as it would not interfere with views in the City Bowl.

- Government – this precinct will focus on government buildings including those in Dorp Street and the provincial administration buildings in Wale Street. A new high-rise building to house various government departments is planned for Loop and Leeuwen streets.

- Government Garage – this precinct comprises pockets of land in Buitenkant, Mill, Hope and Roeland Streets. The government garage will move to the old abattoir site in Maitland along with the ambulance depot.

- The Two Rivers Urban Park at Oude Molen and Valkenberg Hospital will be combined as the base for a high-tech medical park. Water taxis along the Black River from Oude Molen to Athlone may be included in the development of this precinct.

According to Robin Carlisle, MEC for Public Works and Transport, the plan was to use provincial government-owned land to generate income to fund building and road maintenance.

He says the plan centres on several public-private partnerships that will generate revenue of between R100-million and R200-million a year providing the city with the income required to wipe out any maintenance backlogs.

removed. posted in another thread.

There is a thread for those articles called Provincial Property Regeneration.

This thread is for the Government Urban Renewal Programme in townships

http://www.iol.co.za/polopoly_fs/cape-argus-1.831612!/image/4114118017.jpg_gen/derivatives/absolute/4114118017.jpg

Plan to bridge N2 gap

December 6 2011 at 12:15pm

B SUTHERLAND, CITY OF CAPE TOWN
Plans are afoot to link the Cape Flats and the airport via a bridge over the N2.
BRONWYNNE JOOSTE

Metro Writer

THE CITY of Cape Town says it is in talks with the Western Cape government to build a bridge over the N2 which would link the Airport Industria to Philippi, as part of a bigger plan to grow the area into one of the city’s biggest industrial hubs.

Belinda Walker, the mayoral committee member for economic, environment and spatial planning, said Philippi was ideally placed for such a project.

The proposed bridge will link Airport Industria to Philippi and cross the N2, which will also allow easy access to the highway from Philippi.

At the moment, there is no direct access to the N2 from the area.

If a new bridge was not built, another suggestion was to further develop Stock Road, over the N2 and into Airport Industria.

Another option includes a bridge upgrade at the Sheffield Road bridge, which already runs over the N2. Matthew Thomas, who handles marketing and public relations for the Philippi Economic Development Initiative, said the bridge would help the export trade because there would be a direct link to the airport.

It would also be more convenient for residents who now have to travel either to Vanguard Drive or the R300 to reach the N2.

Thomas said many different sites for the possible bridge were being discussed. Some involved linking it up to Stock Road, while another was building a new bridge altogether.

“Cape Town has fairly well-developed nodes, lots of different areas where businesses and factories operate. You’ve also got a CBD, and that’s a magnate. There’s so much happening here. What you’ve got to do is spread that industrial and commercial development out of the CBD and into other areas.”

She explained why Philippi had the prime position for this expansion.

“There’s a lot of development at the Airport Industria, but it’s getting overfull. Philippi makes an ideal node because its close to the airport. It’s very easy to link because all you need is this bridge over the road. We have talked to province and they don’t see a problem with that.”

Walker said there would also have to be easy access to the area from the highway.

“You need also to be able to get off and on the N2 at Philippi. Rather than having go to down Borcherds Quarry and travelling through Crossroads, which is a bit of a wind around.”

Also making Philippi an attractive region was a “massive amount of private sector development… It’s got vacant industrial land at competitive prices,” said Walker.

Walker also mentioned two major shopping market chains whose distribution centres were based there. And there were also plans to develop an old cement factory into an arts and crafts cultural centre.

This project was being made possible with foreign donor funding.

Also on the cards for next year was the establishment of a Philippi Improvement District.

Walker added that plans for a new shopping mall there were also expected to come through early in the next year.

The fresh produce market there was also thriving. “It’s an ideal place for agro-processing. You’re next to rail the link, you’re right next to the N2, very close to the airport. There’s also a direct link to the port. And you have a line through to the produce developing areas through the Winelands. It’s very strategically placed.”

Steven Otter, spokesman for the provincial ministry of the Department of Transport and Public Works said, they had “regular meetings” with the city but could not immediately confirm the bridge proposal.