A development project at Ward 114 in Mfuleni is underway and is expected to be completed soon. The project accommodates beneficiaries from various areas including Nyanga, Philippi and some of the old informal settlements and backyarders from Mfuleni. More than 800 people are expected to benefit from this project.
Ward 114 councillor Enerst Madikane described the development as an integration project. He said the City is relocating people residing along the main roads to construct a MyCiTi transit line. He stated the project is a relief for the beneficiaries as they are going to get serviced sites.
“The City will move some of the people from the informal settlements of Philippi and Nyanga who built their shacks on the City’s road reserve sides to build MyCiTi’s road. And some of the beneficiaries are coming from the informal areas and backyarders from Mfuleni,” said Madikane. However, he refused to mention which informal areas would benefit. He stated that the City will provide the beneficiaries with serviced sites for now to speed up the processes. Madikane declared that the project will be built in phases.
“The project has two phases. We are in phase one, called Bosasa Link and have at least 350 beneficiaries in Nyanga and Philippi. In the second phase, the beneficiaries are from informal settlements and the backyarders who are on the database from Mfuleni which comprises the rest of the number,” he explained, adding that the project cost more than R200 million.
Madikane stated that the project is expected to be completed at the end of June.
Ward 80 councillor Bennet Payiya from Philippi, one of the areas that are going to benefit from the project, confirmed that some beneficiaries are coming from his ward. He stated that the number of beneficiaries from his area is not confirmed yet.
“Some of the people who are going to be relocated from my ward are the ones who are residing along Govan Mbeki Road and Moonwod Street. I’m not sure about the number yet,” said Payiya adding that the construction of MyCiTi road has already started in his ward.