Sisulu calls on HDA to fast track completion of N2 Gateway project

The Minister of Human Settlements‚ Lindiwe Sisulu‚ on Monday instructed the Housing Development Agency (HDA) to complete the remaining phases of the N2 Gateway Housing project by 2019 or sooner.

The project was launched by Sisulu in 2004 to test the then new human settlements policy titled "Breaking New Ground".

The project was meant to deliver 20‚000 housing units by 2014 to clear informal settlements along the N2 Gateway from the Cape Town International Airport.

"We are happy that the project has delivered 14‚000 housing units. I want the remaining 6‚000 units to be completed before 2019‚ or before 2019.

“If it was up to me‚ it must be completed by 2016 but l am very proud of work done‚ more than 40‚000 people have benefitted and have decent shelter over their heads"‚ said Sisulu.

Receiving a technical briefing on N2 Gateway project‚ the minister further called on the HDA to ensure that the roll out of the project involves the youth as part of the National Youth Brigade programme.

"Whenever we implement human settlements projects we must ensure that we train and involve youth and military veterans”.

According to the HDA‚ the N2 Gateway project involves the development of fully subsidised rental and affordable bonded homes in sustainable settlements along the N2 highway in the Western Cape.

“A national government-led priority‚ the N2 Gateway is intended to address historic and endemic problems associated with rapid urbanisation‚ poverty and homelessness in the area‚” according to the HDA.

“As the implementing agent for this mega-project‚ the HDA is working in close collaboration with the Western Cape provincial department of human settlements and the City of Cape Town” to deliver homes to communities in five precincts: New Rest‚ Delft 7-9 and Delft Symphony‚ Boystown and Joe Slovo.

“The commitment of all parties to building human settlements that promote human dignity and creating healthy and cohesive communities has been identified as vital to the success of the project.”

RDM News Wire.