Learn more about Human Settlements at Garden Route District Municipality

It is a high-level document between the GRDM and the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure (WC DoI) to broadly demonstrate our respective intent to cooperate on several specific affordable housing programmes and projects.

GRDM and some of its B Municipalities have commenced with investigative work and feasibilities together with appointed Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA) Accredited institution, Own Haven in the case of GRDM, Knysna and Mossel Bay. These affordable rental projects will be formally linked with successful beneficiaries after being formally advertised/marketed for occupation by successful prospects. Further, there are FlISP individual ownership schemes already completed in Mossel Bay and George which are currently being marketed for occupation.

The GRDM is making preparation to formally invite qualifying private property developers, corporations and landowners, etc., which are interested in partnering the district in enhanced development of similar projects.

The qualification criteria will be linked to the specific project and be informed primarily by normal housing legislation guidelines and measurement criteria which will be announced or communicated by the GRDM at the appropriate time. Also, you may register your need in the meanwhile at your local municipality or on the Western Cape Government App for new registrations or to update their details that are available on both the iOS and Android platforms.

As is well known, the jurisdictional authority of the GRDM covers the 7 Local Authorities of Bitou, Knysna, George, Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn, Hessequa, and Kannaland. Depending on project viability, these projects will be located in areas that are deemed to be viable for related implementation by appointed professional teams and contractor(s).

This is a new program that has been introduced by the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements (WC DoHS) and is normally run in tandem with confirmed committed financed linked projects like Gap Housing and FLISP (Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Projects). These are in the main projects that promote individual ownership for low to medium income households who traditionally struggle to meet the standard banking criteria to obtain mortgage finance or bond to buy a unit within these schemes. It is therefore linked to the overall Consumer Education interventions promoted by the WC DoI and participating municipalities.

If potential beneficiaries who are listed in a formal database therefore which is linked to such planned or committed ownership projects are indebted and require rehabilitation, they will therefore be offered the opportunity to liaise with already appointed service by the WC DoI to offer such a service. This is also a Consumer Education service normally offered by the Provincial authority and linked municipalities. Participating Municipalities in the GRDM areas of jurisdiction must first have a defined finance-linked ownership project linked to a database of potential beneficiaries which will be key in determining those that require support to enhance their creditworthiness and ability to obtain a government guarantee with related bank finance to buy a targeted unit for ownership purposes.

Once the necessary project preparation and packaging have been done following the feasibility exercise to determine related viability, there will be a formal announcement and advertisement by the council to that effect.

The priority focus for all GRDM and other Municipalities that constitute the District Municipality will be on low-income households with affordability as one of the key objectives.

Council intends to form formal partnership arrangements with accredited social housing institutions that will undertake related projects for targeted and qualifying affordable rental clients. These housing institutions will therefore develop and manage such rental assets exclusively for affordable rental purposes which will include undertaking the applicable beneficiation processes and customer relations requirements to those who have been successfully accorded the status of being successful tenants.

Such a choice will be left to the applicant to exercise as the intent is to provide choice since households have different needs and interests relative to affordable housing options.

Yes, indeed as related government policies and development programmes promote the need for long-term integration of communities in well-located areas with sufficient infrastructure and related services.