The eThekwini Municipality has given its Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee the green light to construct access roads in three rural housing projects in the Municipality’s western region.

This comes after the committee approved the use of the Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG) at the monthly committee meeting held recently.

During the meeting Councillors agreed that the USDG funding must be used to upgrade the three housing projects namely KwaXimba Phase 1, eMaphephetheni Phase 1 and Kwangcolosi Phase 1. All three housing projects are on the current financial year’s business plan.

Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee Chairperson Councillor Mondli Mthembu says the funding will assist in improving household’s access to basic services through the provision of bulk, link and internal reticulation infrastructure, with a focus on the disadvantaged and urban development and urban production.

“This is done to support broader urban development, spatial integration by supplementing the capital budgets of metropolitan municipalities,” he adds.

“At local level, the Human Settlements Unit works to effectively implement Plan Three of eThekwini Municipality’s Integrated Development Plan: creating a quality living environment,” Mthembu notes.

A total number of 233 top structures will have to be constructed in this arduous terrain and according to the municipality several meetings were held with the community, advising them on the challenges experienced since the project had started.