The City’s Human Settlements Directorate today, 26 September 2024, handed over the keys of 32 homes in its approximately R800 million Macassar mega housing project to qualifying beneficiaries. The project, which will consist of 2 469 homes once completed, has experienced a number of challenges including violence and protests. These challenges have been resolved and the City is urging community members to assist the City in ensuring the successful completion of this flagship project.
The Macassar housing project is progressing well with some 381 units currently under construction and the first clusters of units already complete. Phase 1 will consist of 605 units and this phase is expected to be completed by June 2025, if all goes according to plan. The City will communicate on the progress and timelines for Phase 2 and 3 in due course. The City has spent more than R200 million on the project to date.
'The project has experienced a number of complexities, including extortion attempts, violence and protests. The City is doing everything it can to provide housing opportunities to the most vulnerable. We are delivering housing opportunities despite these extreme challenges. Macassar is an example of how the City is overcoming threats by extortionists and standing firm in its commitment to deliver housing. Our teams remain dedicated to completing the Macassar project for the beneficiaries and their families as soon as possible.
‘Thank you to our communities, City teams and project engagement committee for the hard work and dedication to completing this project and moving the rightful beneficiaries into their new homes. We especially thank those in the community who protected the project and ensured these keys could be handed over today. This is the dawn of a new path of possibility for this project,' said Human Settlements Mayoral Committee Member, Councillor Carl Pophaim.
Beneficiaries of City housing projects are selected in accordance with the City's Housing Allocation Policy and Housing Needs Register to ensure housing opportunities are made available in a fair and transparent manner that prevents queue jumping and to those who qualify for housing as per the South African legislation.
Supplied by: City of Cape Town
