The City of Cape Town’s Transport and Urban Development department (TDA) has set aside a R5,34-billion budget for the next financial year, of which R1,77 billion has been allocated to projects related to housing developments, roads, and public transport infrastructure.

Housing and transport remains one of the most critical areas to address, weekly protests have erupted because of lack of service delivery in these sectors.

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport and Urban Development, Councillor Brett Herron said in a statement that the City’s TDA will, over the next three financial years, spend the bulk of its budget on the provision of new housing opportunities, new roads to relieve traffic congestion and infrastructure for the roll-out of the MyCiTi service to Michelle Plain and Khayelitsha.

“Given the dire need for housing the TDA will spend R2,1 billion on the development of new housing opportunities over the next three financial years, with R590 million being budgeted for 2018/19 alone,” the statement read.

The 2018/19 budget is allocated to 36 housing developments which are either in the planning phase, already under way, or in the process of being finalised. These include projects in Nyanga, Atlantis, Heideveld, Fisantekraal, Grassy Park, Somerset West, Scottsdene, Hangberg, Durbanville, Bardale, Belhar, Delft, Gugulethu, Manenberg, Strand, Blue Downs, Dido Valley, Macassar, Harare, Imizamo Yethu, Valhalla Park, Masiphumelele, Brown’s Farms, Beacon Valley, Salt River, Sir Lowry’s Pass Village, Langa, Vrygrond, Retreat, Ottery and Philippi, among others.

They have also budgeted R155-million for the next financial year to fund the purchase of well-located land for future housing projects. The City is also increasing the delivery of affordable housing opportunities by partnering with non-profit social housing institutions (SHIs) to provide subsidised rental accommodation.

To alleviate the issues surrounding transport, they recently signed an agreement with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) and the Western Cape Provincial Government, to train and jointly fund a dedicated enforcement unit to focus on the safety and security of Metrorail commuters and infrastructure.

The City have also pledged to expand the network of safe sidewalks and cycle lanes and invest in new minibus-taxi facilities in Dunoon and Masiphumelele, while refurbishing others with covered walkways and ablution facilities.

R481-million has been allocated for the construction of new road infrastructure in congestion hotspots around Cape Town. Some of the projects that are already under way are the dualling of Kommetjie Road in the Far South; Belhar Main Road and Erica Drive in Belhar; and Langverwacht Road in Kuils River.

Read more here www.capetown.gov.za

Picture: Pixabay

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