KNYSNA NEWS - The Knysna Municipal Council has approved a reduction in the selling price of residential stands within the Erf 3339 Fisherhaven Housing Development.
This decision was made at an ordinary council meeting last week. The councillors approved a revised pricing structure for the development.
Applicants earning more than R22 001 per month will pay R52 352 per stand, while qualifying applicants earning between R3 501 and R22 001 per month will pay between R30 000 and R40 000, depen-ding on their income bracket.
According to the municipality, this decision represents a substantial social and economic investment intended to support home ownership opportunities for lower- and middle-income households while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the development,
Council cites affordability concerns
The portfolio chairperson for human settlements, Neil Louw, said the reduction acknowledges the financial challenges many families face in accessing property ownership.
"This decision demonstrates Council's commitment to balancing affordability with responsible development. The reduction in the selling price of these stands reflects Council's recognition of the financial challenges many families face in accessing property ownership. This is a meaningful intervention that seeks to create opportunities for residents who may otherwise be excluded from the property market," said Louw.
The director of integrated human settlements, Dr Richard Martin, pointed out that the reduced prices do not guarantee allocation of a stand.
"It is important that prospective applicants understand that this approval of reduced prices does not equate to automatic allocation. Every application will be assessed against the approved qualifying criteria and verification requirements to ensure fairness, trans-parency and compliance with the objectives of the project," Martin said.
The municipality said further details about the application and verification process will be communicated in due course.
HIHS calls for further price cuts
However, the decision has not satisfied all stakeholders. Hornlee Inclusive Housing Solutions (HIHS) said it remains concerned about both the pricing structure and the municipality's approach to the project.
The organisation had previously submitted a request that the price per stand be reduced from R53 000 to between R15 000 and R20 000. HIHS argued that beneficiaries would face significant addi-tional expenses before they could begin building.
According to HIHS, the cost of standard building plans, engineering fees, municipal approvals, building deposits and zoning requirements could add more than R66 000 to the overall cost of a stand. Combined with the purchase price, the organisation estimates that beneficiaries could face expenses of nearly R120 000 before construction begins.
HIHS's convener, Deswin Talmaggies, said many residents continue to feel excluded from housing opportunities despite the years of engagement.
Concerns over housing affordability
Talmaggies said HIHS believes the current pricing structure and development model could place home ownership beyond the reach of some intended beneficiaries.
He also expressed his concern about what he described as a lack of trust in the process and the pace at which housing opportunities are being delivered.
Talmaggies further said that in HIHS's view, some previous social housing initiatives in Hornlee had not delivered the outcomes the residents had hoped for.
"In Hornlee, we have seen how some portions of land were sold for a fraction of the property value for social housing, but what we've seen is anything but social housing. Some properties remain vacant and undeveloped for years while we are forced to remain backyard dwellers or rent homes or flats at extravagant amounts," he said.
He added that HIHS would continue advocating for residents who feel excluded from housing developments and maintained that the "plot-and-plan" model previously agreed to for the 63 plots should remain in place. "The plot-and-plan previously agreed to for the 63 plots is not negotiable," he said.
The municipality has previously defended its approach to the Fisherhaven development and said the revised pricing seeks to balance affordability with the long-term sustainability of the project.
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