By: Zethu Gweva
In a mission to change the lives of the Duncan Village’s people, Deputy Minister of Human Settlements Pam Tshwete signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Eastern Cape Human Settlements MEC Nonkqubela Peters and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality Executive Mayor Xola Pakati at the East London International Convention Centre today.
According to Tshwete, the signing of the MOA follows the Ministers and Members of the Executive Council (MINMEC) decision in November 2019 to allocate funding to BCMM for Human Settlements Development in Duncan Village
She said the Housing Development Agency (HDA) which is an entity of the National Department of Human Settlements, has identified land parcels for human settlements development in and around the city.
“The Duncan Village area is a historical significance within East London where 20 000 of its households currently reside in informal dwellings,” said Tshwete.
Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality Executive Mayor Xola Pakati said an amount of six billion rands has been allocated for housing development in Duncan Village which will take six years to complete.
“We will ensure that the project is completed on time. People we will be placed in temporary structures as the project proceeds and the HDA is responsible for overseeing the project and we as the spheres of government will monitor the project,” Pakati.
According to Tshwete, in terms of the agreement between the executive authorities of the three spheres of government, the HDA will be the programme manager to support the Metro’s Human Settlements Programme.
“This includes monitoring and supporting current and future implementing agents in Duncan Village and other areas,” said Tshwete.