This past week 66 beneficiaries of the Boystown housing development in Nyanga, moved into their brand-new homes. In total, 116 beneficiaries have benefitted from this project since July 2020.
The Boystown project which commenced in 2010, has a budget allocation of just over R 308 million and aims to deliver 1548 housing opportunities. It is an in-situ upgrading where Breaking New Ground (BNG) units are being built and sites serviced. This project will be completed in 2021 and includes the outstanding 210 houses.
As part of our efforts to re-block and de-densify the area, all beneficiaries for this project are sourced from the Triangle site, Newrest, Gqobasi, Open Spaces and Philippi TRA.
Western Cape Minister of Human Settlements, Tertuis Simmers said: “Affording these residents the opportunity to vastly improve their lives is what we work for as we want to restore our people’s dignity. Our aim is to ensure that communities across the Western Cape experience this difference.
These moves are particularly pleasing as this area has been plagued by a host of community disputes and horrific crimes including murder, attempted murder and intimidation which led to various delays in its implementation. We will not allow any form of intimidation or threats of violence to derail us from our plans to improve our people’s lives.
We take this opportunity to thank our partner, the Housing Development Agency (HAD), along with the South African Police Services (SAPS), the City of Cape Town’s and all other Law Enforcement and private security agencies for assisting us in ensuring a smooth move for these beneficiaries.
I call on all residents to continue to work with the SAPS and law enforcement and to report all those who are intent on acting in a criminal manner in this area. Anyone who wants to prevent beneficiaries the opportunity of improved living conditions, must face the full might of the law.
Those with genuine concerns and grievances should engage the Ward Councillors and Project Steering Committees (PSC’s) so that it can be addressed.
As the Western Cape Government, we remain committed to accelerating housing delivery while promoting social inclusion through the development of integrated, resilient, safe and sustainable human settlements in an open opportunity society.”
