The eThekwini Municipality has earmarked a number of prime locations within the inner city for social housing.

This follows the tabling of the Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee report, which outlined the sites to be released for social housing, at a recent Executive Committee meeting.

The tabled report grants authority to enter into long-term leases for the properties for an initial period of 30 years with an option to renew for a further 20 years. The properties will also be appropriately rezoned to accommodate the proposed development.

Mondli Mthembu, Chairperson of the Human Settlements and Infrastructure Committee says the project seeks to regenerate the inner city to return economic development to the region. “We want to bring investment back to the inner city that has moved to the northern and western suburbs. This project will bring much needed economic growth to the City,” Mthembu notes.

Deputy City Manager of the Human Settlements, Engineering and Transport Cluster Beryl Mphakathi adds that there are currently 60 000 to 70 000 people currently living in the inner city adding that by 2040 there will be 450 000 people residing in the inner city.

“The City needs to plan ahead for this. This development will be a mixed-use, mixed-income development where economic activity will also take place,” she concludes.