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Today, 15 November, the City of Johannesburg handed over 78 fully subsidised freehold housing units (RDP) houses in Kliptown Extension 11, Soweto, to residents who had been relocated from Charter Square, Chris Hani, Angola and Racecourse informal settlements.

Another group of 58 beneficiaries will take occupancy of their houses over the next few weeks, and almost 200 other units are nearing completion.

Margaret May was in tears as she was handed keys to her new home at the age of 65.  She was born in Kliptown and had stayed as a tenant around the area for the past 45 years. “God has answered my prayers. I can’t believe that I finally have my own house. I'm overjoyed and grateful to the City of Johannesburg for this house,” she said.

Another delighted new home owner, Albert Hlongwane could also not contain his excitement. “I want to thank the government for finally hearing our cries and giving us a home. My grandchildren can finally have a place they can call home. We will be celebrating this coming weekend,” he said.

The allocations are part of the Greater Kliptown Development Project, an ongoing urban renewal initiative aimed at clearing the area of the 14 informal settlements and providing residents with formal housing units.

The city is prioritising special cases of the elderly, physically disabled and child headed households.

Through this projects the City of Johannesburg is continuing to push and to tackle the waiting list. The City is committed to react to the needs of its most vulnerable members of society, the elderly, by moving them from the informal settlements to new and permanent homes.

Issued by City of Joburg