The refurbishment of mining towns in the North West is well under way thanks to various projects undertaken by the provincial government.

Of the 3 462 housing units budgeted for in 2014/2015, 2 999 have been delivered across the province, according to provincial Department of Local Government and Human Settlements.

MEC Collen Maine, in his 2015/2016 Budget Speech, said that at least R482 681 million has been ring-fenced and will be used for the development of mining towns.

He said eleven informal settlements have been assessed and work will commence for the installation of internal services in Nkaneng, Ikemeleng, Freedom Park, Popo Molege, YizoYizo, Maditlolwa, Sporong North and South, Mbeki-Sun, Inkaneng and Wonderkop.

“In Matlosana, Alabama, we are planning for this financial year to service 966 sites and construct 588 top structures. On the overall, 4 188 houses will be constructed around mining towns inclusive of Madibeng, Rustenburg, Kgetlengrivier, Moses Kotane and Matlosana, in this financial year,” he said.

Developing the Marikana area

Having commenced from 2014/15 financial year, the Marikana Extension 2 Integrated Development Project also continues to be implemented.

This, in partnership with Lonmin and Rustenburg Local Municipality will yield over 2 000 housing units over a period of three years.

As part of the continued development of the Marikana area, more than 200 hectares of well-located land suitable for human settlements has been purchased and will yield at least 7 000 mixed development housing opportunities over the next five years.

An amount of R18 million has been budgeted in the 2015/16 financial year for township establishment, engineering services design and environmental authorisation, as well as design and approval of top structures.

“The joining planning processes for this project will be undertaken by Housing Development Agency (HDA) and the Department, in this financial year,” MEC Maine said.

BNG and FLISP units

He further comitted to delivering 500 units at Segwaelane Village.

MEC Maine said the initial phases of the 292 Breaking New Ground housing units and 252 Community Residential Units were planned for the 2014/15 financial year and currently contractors are on site, adding that considerable progress has been registered to date.

This is despite having encountered interference from the community and other concerned groups.

However, constant engagement with all concerned groups continues on a weekly basis, he said.

“This phase of the project is envisaged to be completed in July 2015.

The second phase of this Breaking New Ground initiative will see the building of about 300 homes,” the MEC said.

This is in addition to the Madibeng Sunway Integrated Development Village, which according to MEC Maine will see the building of 1 000 low cost housing units handed over to the beneficiaries in the last financial year and that an additional 500 units will be constructed in this financial year.

“At the end, this project will, yield 1 500 units comprising different typologies of community residential Units, social housing and Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP),” the MEC said.