PROGRESS IN DUNCAN VILLAGE HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROJECT
There’s progress on the project that is changing Duncan Village for the better.

The Minister of Human Settlements Water & Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu was in the City to assess progress on this project aimed at changing the face of this historically significant informal settlement.

Minister Sisulu was accompanied by Deputy Minister Pam Tshwete, the Executive Mayor of Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, Cllr. Xola Pakati.

The project aimed at changing the face of the informal settlement in the City will be implemented in a phased approach. 

The first phase of the project is expected to accommodate 2500 residents.

This Presidential Priority project has a great significance in East London, where over 20 000 of its households currently reside in informal dwellings. 

It is therefore an urgent priority to create sustainable and habitable human settlements for this community.

In January 2020 National and Provincial Departments of Human Settlements and the Buffalo City Metro signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build temporary housing for residents of Duncan Village while building permanent homes for them. 

This was a necessary step to ease congestion in the informal settlement, and allow for a phased-approach towards a permanent housing solution.

To date 119 units have been completed and ready to be handed over to the beneficiaries whilst other 166 units are still waiting for services such as water and electricity. 

These structures will serve as a temporary measure while construction of permanent housing is underway Reeston and other areas.

2021-03-15