Incentives to encourage private-sector development of inner-city housing for lower-income residents are being considered by the City of Johannesburg.
”If we don’t provide affordable housing, the slumlords will do that,” said Dr Philip Harrison, executive director of development planning and urban management.
Between 250 000 and 300 000 people live in the inner city, an environment not originally planned for residents, he told a media briefing in Johannesburg.
A target of 70 000 housing units before 2014 had been set by the draft inner-city charter, which would involve much private-sector involvement.
Of these, roughly 20 000 to 30 000 units are needed for the lower-income bracket, Harrison said.
The inner-city housing strategy was still under development but possible incentives to persuade the private sector to provide for the lower-end market are being considered.
These could include rebates on rates and accelerated development processes, he said.
”It’s an attempt to persuade developers to provide a greater percentage of units in that band.”
Regional director Nkosinathi Mthethwa said the inner city was allocated R100-million for operating expenditure in the current financial year.
Capital expenditure was set at R300-million with a commitment to invest R2-billion over five years.
The inner city had ”pockets of excellence” but problems still existed, he said.
Focus areas were bad buildings, law enforcement, service breakdown and improvement, public spaces and urban environment, public infrastructure and regeneration.
The department was working with the South African Revenue Service to be alerted of property defaulters, which could indicate dysfunctional management of buildings, Mthethwa said.
Verification of all property owners was also under way.
Three buildings are being rehabilitated for temporary housing for people displaced by evacuations from bad buildings.
”It’s a worldwide phenomenon to have temporary housing for the destitute,” he said.
The inner-city urban management plan will be presented to the mayoral committee next week. — Sapa