Construction on the first 463 rental apartments as part of the City of Cape Town’s Langa Hostel Transformation Programme, is progressing well with most of the blocks having reached the third and fourth floor-stage of the build programme.

The City has spent approximately R60 million of the R150 million set aside for the first phase comprising 463 units in an effort to transform the lives of thousands of hostel-dwelling residents. Approximately 12 blocks are currently under construction.

“This is possibly one of the largest redress projects in the Western Cape.

“The steady progress that has been achieved with this project should make all Capetonians proud,” says the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Benedicta van Minnen.

“Viewed from both directions on the N2, this development is now clearly visible. It is amazing to see that our vision of eradicating the horrific apartheid-era hostels is being realised,”she adds.

More to come

The 463 units are to be built over the next two years on the Old Depot Site in Langa. It forms part of the first phase of a project which will ultimately see the construction of more than 1 300 units within the next five years.

During this phase of the Langa project, which comprises two phases, the 463 households will be relocated from the hostels to secure two-bedroom apartments in Langa – with individual kitchenettes, toilets, showers and solar-heated water systems, wash-lines and space for children to play safely in the grounds.

This project is the first Hostel Transformation Programme under the Human Settlements Directorate’s Community Residential Unit Programme for Langa.

The City’s overall Hostel Transformation Programme will eventually be rolled out to other qualifying beneficiaries in Langa, Gugulethu and Nyanga.