Housing in Southern Africa October-November 2016

The Zanemvula Mega project

T his forms part of the informal Settlement Upgrading and Human Settlement Project in the NelsonMandela BayMunicipality. The project consists mainly of the replanning, upgrading and im- provement of Soweto-on-Sea and Veeplaas. The greenfields projects of Chatty Extensions and Joe Slovo West will yield 20 000 fully subsidised hous- ing units over a 15 year period. To date 8 071 units have been delivered across the various projects since 2006. The project is being facilitated by the National Department of Human Settlements, the Provincial Depart- ment of Human Settlements has made funds available, approved the D r Taibat Lawanson, the De- partment of Urban and Re- gional Planning, University of Lagos, Nigeria shared his presenta- tion, ‘Towards and inclusive African Urban Development Trajectory’ to create the Africa we want…and aspire to. Addressing delegates at the in- augural National Department of Human Settlements Conference, Lawanson honed in on the United Nations Habitat Urban Agenda the vision is of cities for all, referring to the equal use and enjoyment of cities and human settlements, seeking to promote inclusivity and ensure that all inhabitants, of present and future generations, without discrimination

The Housing Development Agency has been appointed as the Implementing Agent for the Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements Zanemvula Mega Project.

consists of 1 060 residential units. It is situated 25 km from the Port Elizabeth CBD, between Uitenhage and Port Elizabeth. The project will house 4 250 people who were previ- ously residing in the floodplains of Soweto-on-Sea and Veeplaas. The 40 m² units comprise of two bedrooms, open lounge and kitchen, plastered and painted internally and externally, gutters and rainwater col- lector. The project has incorporated eight SMME contractors and allocated contracts to five women and four youth contractors. ■ ments. Strengthen local knowledge institutions, revise curricular and reform praxis to reflect contempo- rary realities and problem solving mindsets. Co-production of urban knowledge with citizen participation at all levels of urban decisionmaking and implementation. Simplify bu- reaucratic processes regarding land and planning administration.Em- power local authorities to fulfill their mandates. Encourage the growth of local enterprises, innovative practices and the creative industry. Develop and integrated planning and sustain- able development framework that localises Agenda 2063, SDGs, Habitat Agenda and African Urban Agenda to actionable goals and timelines. ■

project, provided an inspectorate, monitoring the progress and enroll- ing the projects with NHBRC. The Nelson Mandela Bay Munici- pality as the land owner is respon- sible for identifying town andprecinct planning, beneficiary identification, bulk infrastructure, funding and amenities. The Housing Development Agency is the implementing agent and proj- ect manager. Chatty 1060 Human Settle- ment project is a component of the Zanemvula Mega Project and of any kind, are able to inhabit and produce safe, healthy, accessible, affordable, resilient sustainable cit- ies and human settlements, to foster prosperity and quality of life for all. Lawanson says that African cities should be centres of dignity, oppor- tunity and innovation, wellbeing and prosperity. He says that people want a hand up and not a hand out. He addresses howwe canmove Af- ricanHuman Settlements toward this preferred vision. Lawanson suggests: Recognise and harness local customs and processes for development such as communities of trust, social net- works, Ubuntu etc. Empower local residents with skills and opportuni- ties to better their lives and environ-

The aim of African cities

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