Crocodile farm earmarked for social housing development

Residents of Bos-en-Dal have been waiting with bated breath to find out what's in tail for the old crocodile farm right on their doorstep.

Although Council has not yet taken a decision on the matter (and it is unclear exactly when such an item will serve before Council), chances are good that the area might be developed to provide social housing. In his last address to Council, George Mayor Melvin Naik said Council has resolved that the larger portion of the old crocodile farm must be utilised for restructuring zones, and that the Department of Human Settlements is currently initiating the process to appoint a social housing institute to do the development. George municipal director of Human Settlements, Charles Lubbe, said the crocodile farm forms part of a restructuring zone identified by Council and approved by Minmac (a Western Cape Provincial Government committee) to provide social housing.

"The Directorate of Human Settlements is currently in the process of drafting an item to Council for the appointment of a social housing institution to drive this process," said Lubbe.

The purpose of restructuring zones is to provide social housing to bring lower income (and often disadvantaged) people into areas where there are economic opportunities from which they were previously excluded, and to promote integration regarding race and class.