About 483 families living in backyards in Parkwood are set to benefit from a R23.4 million investments from the City of Cape Town in it’s the latest roll-out, of services such as electricity, water and sanitation.
Speaking at an inspection visit to the Parkwood backyarders’ project, Cape Town Mayor Patricia De Lille said of the R23.4 million, more than R1.4 million will go towards sanitation services, including plumbing and toilet structures, while the bulk of the investment is intended for electricity infrastructure. So far, toilet structures have been installed and plumbing services are currently being completed. The underground electricity infrastructure installation is nearly completed, while electricity connections will be done in July and August. “This project is being rolled out at an impressive pace as work started in March,” commented De Lille. “The City is also currently implementing the backyarder project in Bonteheuwel, where around 700 families are set to benefit from the provision of services,” she added. The sanitation budget for this project totals more than R3.1 million and the electricity infrastructure investment is R22.2 million.
According to the Mayor up to 1 000 electricity connections will be installed in Bonteheuwel.
The City has also rolled out 7 947 refuse bins to backyarders in Council rental units across the city, with 565 of the bins going to Parkwood and 392 bins to Bonteheuwel. “Our officials have developed a very successful working relationship with the Parkwood Backyarders’ Committee – a very active community structure working with the City to ensure that this project is completed successfully,” De Lille said. The project has been welcomed by community members, who have expressed their gratitude for the initiative and the services. “Our future backyarder projects will be rolled out in Leonsdale for 52 backyarder families, Nooitgedacht for 48 families, Bishop Lavis for 256 families, Bellville South for 375 families, and Lavender Hill for 329 backyarder families,” she concluded.
