Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Parks Tau, recently launched the City Deep housing project.

The 708-unit social housing development boasts roads, pedestrian walkways, gardens and other amenities.

Speaking at the launch and the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (Joshco), Tau said the flagship project represented the vision of Johannesburg’s future, one of accessibility, equality and dignity.

“Joshco in fulfilling its mandate to transform these monuments of South Africa’s historic inequalities into sustainable thriving spaces,” said Tau.

Joshco, mandated by the City to address human settlement and urbanisation disparities, has over the past 10 years invested more than R1.8 billion in the provision of a total of 7 000 homes and the refurbishment or construction of 8 749 housing units, with ambitious plans to increase the number to 13 600 units by the end of June 2017.

The ongoing City Deep Project, expected to be completed by May next year, entails transforming the old segregated dormitories into a contemporary living space in a safe and secure environment.

“The City Deep Project is a demonstration of the City’s commitment to redress historic spatial inequalities through, among other things, the rehabilitation of mining land in line with our Corridors of Freedom programme.

“This programme seeks to realise our spatial vision of well-planned transport arteries that are linked to interchanges where mixed-use development, high density accommodation – supported by office buildings, retail development and opportunities for leisure and recreation – exist,” he explained.

Tau added that the City would spend a total of R3.3 billion on infrastructure development along the Corridors of Freedom over the next three years.

He commended Joshco for being at the forefront of transforming social housing as well as former single-sex hostels into family friendly, dignified and accessible homes.