“In a groundbreaking commitment to reconstruct the profile of human settlements and the space economy, the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Housing, Cllr Mlungisi Mabaso, turned the sod at the Rivonia Social Housing Development to officially start the construction of almost R0.5 billion social housing project led by Johannesburg Social Housing Company (JOSHCO).
This social housing development in Rivonia, Edenburg, is part of the City’s turnkey projects, which aims to advance the City’s programme of building decent, accessible and affordable housing enabling qualifying groups of middle-low income earners to access housing opportunities around the economic nerve centres such as Sandton, Midrand, Fourways and the surrounding areas in line with the City’s Housing Policy of Breaking New Ground and building an inclusive City.
This housing development is a catalyst for the creation and linkage of functional economic nodes which will breach the spatial divide and thus address the social imbalance amongst the residents of the City.
Thus, as the City of Jo’burg remakes itself, it will become home to a confluence of new human and economic spaces connecting our people, integrating our communities and bringing people closer to work and business opportunities for a sustainable economy.
Also at the launch was the CEO of JOSHCO, Mr Victor Rambau, Mr Victor Nkuna, the CEO of Thlokomelo Management, Ms Liziwe Ntshinga-Makoro, the Region E Regional Director, and the Ward Councillor, Cllr Chris Santana and other stakeholders.
The development will yield 1 077 social and affordable rental units on completion, ranging from studio units, one bedroom to two bedrooms of various sizes. The 10 storey walk-up blocks will accommodate mixed-income households with gross income ranging from R2500-15000 per household a month. This smart development will come with Wi-Fi system in every unit, and solar water heating.
MMC Mabaso said: “This development will go a long way in changing people’s lives and to show that we are doing our best for the residents of Joburg. Over 1 000 families will be housed through this project.”
Thlokomelo’s Nkuna expressed his company’s support of SMMEs to enable inclusive participation and opportunity maximisation. “We will extend a hand to SMMEs to ensure that they grow and become sustainable. With the guidance of JOSHCO, we will ensure that we assist small business continuously. We are keen to provide technical skills to women. Working with JOSHCO, we will identify females who qualify.”
In keeping with the City’s SMME support programmes, the project bears testament to a multi-dimensional socio-economic contribution in a structured manner that restores the pride and dignity of the residents of the City leading to the creation of new asset classes that will undermine the economic divide.
The Rivonia Social Housing Project is a pioneering initiative, which JOSHCO believes will foster social cohesion and further ensure that no space within the City’s boundaries is designated a racially exclusive enclave for any racial group.
The project rewrites the story of the human settlement mapping of the apartheid legacy which displaced the black population and subjected them to peripheral and barren lands. We are confident that through this groundbreaking project, the advancement of the City’s growth and development will be speedily actualised to the benefit of all.”
What infrastructure enhancements will be made before such a development in put in place ? What schooling is there in available to serve this increase of people? How will this complex be maintained to a standard acceptable to the surrounding community ?
It won’t and it can’t. The proposed site is the old Harrisons on 12th restaurant which closed many years ago. Rivonia pre primary is directly across the road but is full. The waste facilities in the area can also not handle existing usage let alone another 1077 family units. Furthermore that road was a complete nightmare pre-Covid in morning and afternoon traffic. I smell a rat.