Tshwane Human Settlements Minister Nomaindiya Mfeketo says the City’s recently launched Thembelihle Social Housing Village is an example of how to integrate mixed housing in the inner city as a way of undoing the apartheid legacy of racialised spatial planning.

Speaking at the launch the Minister said the Thembelihle Social Housing Village provides a wonderful opportunity for beneficiaries who now get to stay close to areas of work, reducing the often high transportation costs that come with being located in the periphery of our cities.

Socially inclusive space

The R300 million project is socially inclusive as it has retail space, social amenities and affordable rental accommodation to over 2 000 people who occupy the 733 mixed type units consisting of bachelor, one, two and three bedrooms.

According to Mfeketo the development targets people in the low to medium income bracket who earn between R3 500 and R15 000 a month. The project consists of eleven 3 to 4 storey walk-up blocks and six tower blocks of 10 to 11 storeys and is situated in the Tshwane Central Business District.

Changing lives for the better

“People are also closer to better facilities in the CBD like state of the art hospitals, schools and other amenities. This is the surest measure of changing people’s lives for the better and we are proud of that as a Government,” she noted.

Tshwane Mayor, Solly Msimanga, expressed his satisfaction at the development.  “We have a backlog of 220 000 houses and 183 informal settlements in Tshwane, but it gives one pleasure to see that this establishment provides an opportunity for people who would have never thought of living in the city a chance to get decent affordable accommodation,” Msimanga highlighted.