12/02/2015: Lufhereng housing development gathers pace
A further 500 Johannesburg families will move into their new homes in November 2015 as the multibillion rand Lufhereng housing development, the biggest integrated housing development initiative undertaken by COJ to address the housing shortage in the city - is fast gathering momentum.
It is hoped and planned that an additional 700 families will be settled in Lufhereng, west of Soweto, in June next year, according to Project Manager Charles Davis.
More than 1800 families are already living in Lufhereng Proper and Lufhereng Ext 1, which has been serviced and completed by COJ and Gauteng Department of Human Settlement’s.
Davis says this development forms part of the City of Johannesburg’s R690-million planned capital expenditure, spread over three years to 2017 for bulk infrastructure – including roads, storm water drainage systems, including the building of a second storm water attenuation pond, bulk sewer and bulk water services resulting in the ultimate delivery of fully serviced stands.
“Now that the extended contracting process has been finalised and performance-based contracts have been signed with a turnkey developer – the Lufhereng Development Company – the City expects to see an accelerated rate of housing delivery.
“One of the key performance areas for the contractor is to delivery about 1 000 houses a year. That will definitely go a long way towards whittling down the housing waiting list and releasing residents from paying rent for backrooms and put an end to cramped living conditions,” says Member of the Mayoral Committee for Housing Councillor Dan Bovu.
The 2 080ha development, initiated in 2008 by the Gauteng Provincial Government and the City of Johannesburg to address the housing backlog in greater Soweto, will comprise of ±22 500 mixed housing units and consist of between 12 to 18 extensions by the time it is completed, which is estimate to be 2023.
A R47-million state-of-the-art primary school, has been built in partnership between the City and the Gauteng departments of Education and Infrastructure and Development. It is expected to open its gates by March this year, according to Davis.
“The school will be semi off-grid as it will harness and operate its electricity from solar panels during sunny days,” says Davis. Other features that stand out about the school include interactive boards, well-laid out sports fields and a well-stocked library.
The construction of a the development’s first high school is expected to commence in the second half of 2015.
Lufhereng Proper and Extension 1 have been fully serviced with water, sewer networks, roads,a storm water drainage system and electricity.
Over the next 7 to 8 years, the City envisages building ±7500 RDP houses, ±7000 Flisp & bonded housing units and estimated 6 100 high-density residential apartments for rental, sale and social housing needs, this adding to the existing 1832 00 units already built.
The projected R6.2 billion capital investments (mostly by the government) will include sports and recreation facilities, community centres, a waste separation and waste management plant, schools, clinics, commercial and Industrial space and other such amenities towards delivering a sustainable and functional human settlement.
The development is also flanked by 3 Lufhereng Estates “to promote a unique live-and-work environment with the opportunity to engage in agricultural activities”, says Davis.
The initiative seeks to promote small- to medium-scale farmers through intensive agricultural practices with the production of higher-yield produce ion over a 680ha area.
The City and Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development preparing and packaging the first agri-estates implementation in the City’s new financial year.
The land will consist of small plots and large open field farm, which is closely linked to City’s drive to promote food security.
Issued by the City of Johannesburg
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Nthatisi Modingoane
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City of Johannesburg
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