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17 February 2021 Joint Media Alert: Historical Agreement to Accelerate Housing Development in the Garden Route

Joint Media Alert: Historical Agreement to Accelerate Housing Development in the Garden Route

For Immediate Release
17 February 2021

On Friday 19 February 2021 Western Cape Human Settlements Minister Tertuis Simmers, and Executive Mayor, Ald. Memory Booysen of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM), will hold a press briefing to unpack the groundbreaking agreement which was signed between the Department and the District Municipality. The briefing will cover exactly what this agreement entails and what it means practically for housing development within the Garden Route district.

Following engagements between the parties, the Department identified the need for the District Municipality to assist with the planning, development and management of selected human settlement priority projects within the Garden Route region. This covers selected housing projects within the municipal areas of George, Knysna, Oudtshoorn, Bitou, Mossel Bay, Hessequa and Kannaland.  Through this initiative, greater commitment and support to these municipalities and, in turn, their respective communities are envisioned.

In line with the Joint District Approach, the agreement essentially seeks to ensure that the various spheres of government and stakeholders work together to accelerate and enhance service delivery within the respective areas. The agreement is the first of its kind in the Western Cape since district municipalities traditionally do not have any housing mandate.

As part of the agreement, and in its commitment to support the GRDM, the Department has funded the appointment of two human settlement practitioners to capacitate the District Municipality.

The various Mayors and Municipal Managers of the region will also be present, along with the Provincial Head of Department of Human Settlements.

Proceedings can also be followed live on Minister Tertuis Simmers’ Facebook page @HumanMinWC.

ALL MEDIA ARE INVITED TO ATTEND. COVID COMPLIANCE MEASURES WILL BE IN PLACE.

DETAILS:

Date: Friday, 19 February 2021
Time: 10h00
Venue: Garden Route District Municipal Offices – Council Chambers, 1st Floor, 54 York Street George.

Live on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/HumanMinWC/

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Media Enquiries:
Marcellino Martin
Western Cape Human Settlements
Spokesperson for Minister Tertuis Simmers
Marcellino.martin@westerncape.gov.za
Tel: 021 483 3397
Mobile: 082 721 3362

Nathan Adriaanse
Western Cape Human Settlements
Director Communication & Stakeholder Relations
Nathan.Adriaanse@westerncape.gov.za
Tel: 021 483 2868
Mobile: 083 2631720

Herman Pieters
Garden Route District Municipality
Senior Communication Officer
Herman@gardenroute.gov.za
Tel:  044 803 1419
Mobile: 081 455 5699