A City of Johannesburg Press Statement by the Executive Mayor, Cllr Herman Mashaba

24 January 2019

This morning, I had the pleasure of joining the City of Johannesburg MMCs for Economic Development and Development Planning, as well as the City Manager, key stakeholders, and members of the press on a walkabout tour to the first three of 84 inner-city buildings set for development.

This event saw us officially set off on our journey of rejuvenating the inner-city through the provision of quality low-cost accommodation for our residents which is a long-standing quest to help us address a housing list backlog that easily exceeds 300,000 units.

Since coming into office, the multi-party coalition government has made tackling the City’s housing crisis one of its top priorities for bringing change to Johannesburg.

It has always been the current administration’s belief that key to bringing about this change to the City is by unlocking the massive potential of the inner-city, not only for the purpose of meeting our housing challenges head-on but with the purpose of creating jobs too.

It is estimated that the City of Johannesburg’s inward migration is set at about 3000 people per month, which undoubtedly adds greater pressure on us to deliver services more efficiently.

In October 2017 a tender was advertised to the public availing thirteen properties in various areas of the inner-city. The response that was received from developers was encouraging both at the briefing session, the acquisition of the tender documents and the submissions. Today, this process has culminated in the awarding of Vannin Court and Beaconsfield Court, and vacant land at 82 Gwigwi Mwrebi Street, Newtown, to EGC Properties and Johannesburg Housing Company, respectively.

BEACONSFIELD

VANNIN COURT

The three properties have been awarded to these two developers who have a proven track record in the area of affordable housing and inner-city Development. The developers have committed a proposed total investment of just over R204 million. Both Hillbrow properties and their associated buildings earmarked for refurbishment are expected to be completed in the next twelve months – availing 384 units for the residents of Johannesburg.

These developments speak to the multi-party government’s priorities which focus on:

 

  • ensuring pro-poor development that addresses inequality and poverty and provides meaningful redress;
  • creating a City that responds to the needs of residents;
  • building an inclusive society with enhanced quality of life for residents;
  • and growing, a diverse and competitive economy that creates jobs

Based on the three proposals for buildings handed over today, these three projects will also create around 900 jobs during construction. The majority of the completed 384 units (the developments cater for mixed-use purposes) will see a maximum rental of R900 per unit per month – excluding municipal services.

Both EGC Properties and Johannesburg Housing Company have worked extensively in the inner-city, which pleases me immensely – a great relationship with the private sector will ensure that we continue to collaborate in the future with other investors, so we can realise a thriving inner-city where our residents can live, work, and play safely.

The proposals also showed a strong commitment to skills transfer through Artisans Training and development, women’s empowerment, SMME support, and green buildings – we are excited for the residents who will participate in this.

The properties that are available for tender are shown in the prospectus that can be downloaded from www.jhbproperty.co.za/prospectus. Tender documents can also be downloaded from this site at no charge.

 

For media queries, please contact:

Chantelle Fourie-Shawe
Media Specialist: Office of the Executive Mayor
081 546 1014
chantellef@joburg.org.za

OR

Andile Ndlovu
Media Specialist: Office of the Executive Mayor
Call: 081 417 1871 OR 011 407 7334
Email: andilend@joburg.org.za