Knysna Municipality housing award
During the recent Govan Mbeki Human Settlements Awards ceremony held in Somerset West in August, the Knysna municipality was announced as joint winner with the City of Cape Town of the Govan Mbeki Human Settlements Award - People’s Housing Project category. Knysna was also runner-up in the Upgrade of Informal Settlements category for its Dam-se-Bos, Vision 2002 and Ethembeni, UISP projects.
This is the sixth time that the Knysna Municipality receives this acknowledgement since the launch of the Govan Mbeki Human Settlements Awards in 2008.
The Knysna Municipal Vision 2002 aims to upgrade and provide the necessary basic infrastructure civil services and 165 low income houses. Vision 2002 further aims to upgrade ten existing informal settlements situated within Knysna’s Northern areas.
The Western Cape Provincial Department of Human Settlements are funding the Damse-Bos and Ethembeni projects, valued at R 33,8 million. To date this project has provided access to basic services to 175 sites, and homes to 165 families.
Knysna executive mayor, Eleanore Bouw-Spies said it is a great honour to receive this prestigious award once again. “Winning this is another testimony that our Integrated Human Settlements team, and its leadership Housing Manager, Mawethu Penxa dedication to excellence has to be applauded.
As we have previously emphasised, our focus as Council is not merely about providing housing, but also the restoration of dignity and building integrated communities,” she said.
Municipal Manager, Kam Chetty said approximately 95 job opportunities have been created through this housing project. “Sixteen local contractors have been appointed for the Dam-se-Bos and Ethembeni projects during the 2016/17 financial year.”