Gauteng plans to eradicate backyard shacks in 20 townships

RELATED LINKS: Housing plan looks at homeless blues THE City of Johannesburg has a strategy in place to deal with its housing problem. The Housing Master Plan hopes to house the homeless by 2009. Read more City works to eradicate shacks THE CITY has targeted informal settlements and is working with the provincial government to build houses for the thousands of families who live in backyard shacks and informal settlements. Read more Housing plan looks at homeless blues THE City of Johannesburg has a strategy in place to deal with its housing problem. The Housing Master Plan hopes to house the homeless by 2009. Read more

Upgraded backyard rooms for 20 townships A new programme to be unveiled on 13 September aims to provide alternative housing to backyard shacks that have become an eyesore in 20 townships around Gauteng. September 12, 2006 By Tammy O'Reilly PEOPLE living in backyard shacks stand to get new rooms or their own houses with the launch of the Top 20 Townships programme by the Gauteng government. On Wednesday, 13 September, Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa will unveil the government's multibillion-rand plan to house backyard dwellers in townships and informal settlements, at the Mehlareng Stadium in Tembisa. A pilot project is already under way in Orlando, Soweto, where over 750 units are being built to house families relocated from backyard shacks. For homeowners, this project will offer an opportunity to upgrade the shacks in their backyards into proper rooms. In some cases shack dwellers will be relocated to new property elsewhere. There are more than 35 000 families living in backyard rooms across Johannesburg, but with the launch of the programme, tenants could get improved accommodation. Backyard shack dwellers are an eyesore in many Johannesburg townships. But they offer a more affordable and readily available housing option to newly arrived migrants desperate for accommodation. This kind of living is attractive because facilities like electricity and water are accessible from the landlord's property and rental is low. The townships earmarked for the programme are: Atteridgeville, Boipatong, Bophelong, Daveyton, Duduza, Kagiso, Khutsong, Katlehong, Kwa-Thema, Mamelodi, Mohlakeng, Munsieville, Ratanda, Refilwe, Rethabiseng, Saulsville, Sebokeng, Sharpeville, Soshanguve, Soweto,Tembisa, Tsakane and Wattville. The project is expected to be completed by 2009. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za