Bitou housing issues explained

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The Bitou municipality has received major criticism over its approach to housing development in New Horizons over the past few years, but mayor Memory Booysen said that some of the shortcomings had to do with challenges inherited in 2011.

Unhappiness about the housing in New Horizons reached fever pitch in March this year and led to several violent protests in which five RDP homes were destroyed.

The concerns of the community at the time included the number of homes being built compared to the massive housing backlog in the community as well as claims of substandard construction of the units. The municipality is in the process of building just more than 60 homes, although there is a backlog of more than 2 000.

But last week Booysen announced that negotiations to purchase 1 469 hectares of land suitable for housing in the area had been concluded and an offer to purchase signed.

The land is a portion of the Hillview Farm, and funds to purchase it would be provided by the Western Cape government as well as the Bitou municipality. This, he said, would be the first phase of the municipality’s land acquisition plans.

Booysen said this week that issues around acquiring the additional land had been a challenge since the current council took over five years ago.

He said it came to light that the R28-million in national funds earmarked for the land had “gone missing” pre-2011. “It was later found that the money had been squandered. When we took over, national government wanted the money back, so we had to raise the money to refund them,” Booysen said.

He added that they not only had to raise the money, but had to renegotiate to purchase the land in New Horizons.

“We managed to successfully do that and recently clinched the land deal. We also reduced the purchase price by more than half and paid R12-million for the property.”

The mayor said the municipality had also been criticised for extensive development in Kwanokuthula while other communities saw very little development.

Kwanokuthula’s development has even brought the municipality provincial and national awards, as the houses are of high quality and everything is within walking distance of quality clinics, schools and other services.

“People ask me, 'why Kwanokuthula?' The answer is relatively simple as it is the only area in Bitou where the municipality owns the open spaces. In other areas land is in private hands and we need to acquire them before we can develop.”

He added that the municipality remained committed to see the same development in all its communities.

“And we are working behind the scenes to acquire the necessary land for this purpose.”

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