Housing in Knysna ‘an ongoing concern’ – muni
Although a function of national and provincial government, providing access to housing remains one of Knysna Municipality’s main concerns. According to mayor Mark Willemse, a total of 447 houses were built during the 2018/2019 financial year, while 200 serviced sites and 454 slabs were provided to qualifying residents.
2018/19 Financial Year
“We also handed over 40 houses in Happy Valley and 11 title deeds in Karatara during this time,” said Willemse. The houses, serviced sites and slabs were provided throughout Bloemfontein, Qolweni, Ethembeni, Flenters, Hlalani, Dam-se-bos, Concordia, Nekkies and Oupad.
The municipality was recognised at the prestigious Govan Mbeki Housing Awards again this year. It attained second place in the Best Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme category for its Witlokasie Project.
Current projects
“Moving forward on these successes, our Directorate of Integrated Human Settlements is building on a three-year delivery plan,” Willemse said. “Housing remains an ongoing concern and we have long-term strategies in place. This plan aims to deliver homes in the short term.”
This plan will see a further 100 serviced sites and another 460 houses constructed during the 2019/20 financial year. “We will continue to work in the areas where we gained traction last year,” he continued. “This financial year will also see homes built in Hornlee and Rheenendal, with serviced sites laid out in Sedgefield. Happy Valley and Witlokasie will also see benefit from this plan during this year.”
According to the three-year delivery plan, the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 financial years will see a combined total of 714 serviced sites and 448 houses built throughout all these areas, as well as Rhobololo, Bongani, Joodsekamp, Khayalethu, Smutsville and Sizamile.
Funding
Finance for housing development is provided by national government agencies like the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA) and the National Housing Finance Council (NHFC) through provincial government. The three-year delivery plan envisages a total spend of R164 730-million, with R69.4-million to be spent during 2019/20.
Challenges
Two big problems Knysna faces when it comes to providing housing are the high level of mobility towards Knysna and the town’s typography. “The Western Cape is seeing an influx of daily new arrivals,” Willemse explained. “In Knysna our already extensive waiting list for housing is growing by a staggering 3% per year. Couple that with the steep hills and valleys of Greater Knysna and the issue of uncertain funding, and the reality of the situation soon becomes clear.”
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