Nelson Mandela Bay:The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has initiated the construction of 153 houses in Joe Slovo and KwaNobuhle, with the developments valued at over R33.3 million. The construction commenced on 1 October 2026 and is scheduled for completion by 26 February 2027, comprising 83 houses in Joe Slovo and 70 in KwaNobuhle Area 11.
According to South African Government News Agency, these projects are part of the metro's efforts to tackle a significant housing backlog in the Eastern Cape, where approximately 100,000 housing units are needed. Many residents in the area's 150 informal settlements live without secure tenure or access to basic services. The municipality aims to progressively fulfill the constitutional right to adequate housing, prioritizing those in the greatest need.
Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe emphasized the importance of these projects, noting that despite the small number of houses, they make a significant difference, especially for vulnerable groups like the elderly and households led by children. The focus is on those eligible for subsidized housing under the Human Settlements policy, including the unemployed and those earning between R0 and R3,500.
The municipality has requested funding from the Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements to construct more homes, initially seeking approval for 800 houses. However, funding was approved for only 153 homes. The budget for the Joe Slovo project is R18,066,693, while R15,236,970 has been allocated for the KwaNobuhle Area 11 development.
Public investment averages around R217,671 per home. The municipality highlighted the shared responsibility of housing delivery among national, provincial, and local governments, with the metro responsible for infrastructure and services.
Lobishe expressed the municipality's commitment to working with higher levels of government to increase housing funding and accelerate delivery. The projects are expected to offer economic benefits by involving seven small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) for construction, contributing to enterprise development and skills transfer.
The municipality reaffirmed its dedication to transparent beneficiary allocation, prioritizing vulnerable residents, and accelerating informal settlement upgrades, while advocating for increased funding to address the housing backlog.