An artists impression of a social housing project planned for the City to accomodate the growing need for housing.

APPROXIMATELY 7 000 social housing units are expected to be built in the Durban inner-city in the next few years. This is to accommodate the growth in population and demand for affordable housing. This emerged during a Town Talk on social housing opportunities in the inner-city as part of the engagement for the inner-city regeneration campaign. 

The Inner-City Regeneration Strategy aims to accommodate approximately 450 000 people in the inner city. At least 40 percent of the accommodation provided will be a mix of affordable, gap and social housing. Sma Moloi, Deputy Head of Formal Housing in the Human Settlements Department explained that social housing refers to units which the government partners with the private sector to provide for those who are earning a certain income and can enter into a lease agreement with the owner of the property. Government provides a partial subsidisation and disburses funding for infrastructure development.

The City facilitates a robust land release strategy to accelerate the development of affordable housing. Moloi explained that there are many incentives offered to developers of social housing. Land is released over a 50 year period for a highly discounted rate of 90 percent. Land for gap housing is also discounted by up to 70 percent making it attractive and viable to develop social housing. The City also offers a reduction in development fees and guides the developer to ensure success. Moloi said there are approximately 2 210 social housing units throughout eThekwini that will be released in the new year. There are approximately 1 578 gap housing units in eThekwini Municipality. She said: “The aim is to ensure that communities are closer to amenities.”