04 Kikuyu Road, Sunninghill, Johannesburg, 2157

BELA BELA

A major collaborative human settlement development project is under way in Bela Bela, Limpopo. This project aims to meet the critical housing and other needs of under-serviced and impoverished communities, and to promote socio-economic transformation.

The HDA has been working with the Limpopo Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs and the Bela Bela Local Municipality in the area.

The site comprises 72ha of land, which has been acquired by the HDA, and has the capacity for approximately 1 063 units of housing. Based on the findings of a household survey in Bela Bela, the HDA will be implementing low-cost housing, affordable housing and community residential units. In addition to houses, provision has also been made for schools, crèches, churches, a clinic, a library and retail space.

There are several challenges currently facing the Bela Bela project. These include the provision of bulk infrastructure, which is being addressed by the provice and the municipality, and the fact that the site is currently occupied illegally. A land holding plan is currently in place to prevent any further people from residing on the land and, as the project unfolds, qualifying existing residents will be accommodated in the new development.

The project will bring with it substantial socio-economic benefits for the Bela Bela community, particularly in terms of job creation. There will also be broader economic returns in the form of an increase in commercial investment. The project beneficiaries will also gain security of tenure through the ownership of their homes.

To date, the HDA has completed the site development plan. We are currently awaiting the necessary council approvals, after which interim services for resident families will begin while funding for the remaining services is secured.

For more information on the Bela Bela project, please contact our Limpopo regional office.