No way ‘to stop deep pockets cashing in’

THERE are currently no mechanisms in place to prevent speculators cashing in on the Conradie better living model exemplar housing project (Blemp), according to a provincial government official.

During a Department of Transport and Public Works briefing to the standing committee , MPL Derrick America said: “Because it is such a well allocated site, what will prevent those purchasing the 51% of homes in the project on the open market from being victims of people with deep pockets?

“These homes were never meant for the rich?”

Transport and Public Works deputy director-general Thiagaraj Pillay said the department could not dictate terms to the developers.

“Unfortunately we do not stipulate what needs to be done. But we can actually make the developer aware that this question of deep pockets could be a problem and a challenge and they need to have some mechanism in place. But we cannot prescribe to them how this needs to be addressed,” said Pillay.

“Even though we assist in every way we can, we do not prescribe to the developer on marketing or the conditions he puts on who can purchase or cannot purchase. We leave that to the developer to do of his own accord,” said Pillay in answer to another committee member, Andricus van der Westhuizen.

Pillay was stumped by Good MPL Brett Herron, who wanted to know how viable the model was.

“I can’t answer the query on replicability just yet, except to say that perhaps it can be addressed at a different forum,” said Pillay.

The proposed Conradie Better Living Game Changer was designed to alleviate a shortage of well located affordable houses close to employment and economic opportunities.

The site is located to the west of Thornton and north-east of Pinelands. It is bordered to the west by the railway line, to the south-east by the Elsies River canal and to the north by Forest Drive Extension.