Housing precincts planned for Mthatha, Mqanduli and Coffee Bay

The King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality has identified 19 precincts for the large-scale construction of homes for upper, middle and low-income earners in Mthatha, Mqanduli and Coffee Bay to spur growth and development in the three towns. This was announced by KSD mayor Nyaniso Nelani during the second day of his mayoral lekgotla in Mthatha on Monday. Nelani told human settlements minister Thembisile Simelane, who joined proceedings virtually, that his municipality was targeting the development of 19 precincts, including a new residential area to be called Bedford City.

Among the precincts would be the transformation of the village of Qunu — synonymous with Nelson Mandela — into Qunu City. Nelani told Simelane the municipality was ready to partner with the department of human settlements in ensuring all the projects became a reality. “We have centred [our] growth and development towards your department.

Whether it is our vision to become a metro, it centres around human settlements,” he told the minister. “We have projects that we are implementing. And we have 19 precincts that we have to enable us to push the growth and development of KSD.

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“We would be happy if human settlements can partner with KSD on those projects.” One of the developments mentioned by Nelani was the N2 Junction project near the Ultra City along the N2. He later told the Dispatch a private developer had shown interest in building about 4,000 housing units at the site. “The developers need about R300m, that is what is stalling development.

They need bulk infrastructure. “Bedford City will also be spearheaded by private developers for a mixed-use development that will include upper-income, middle-income and low-income houses, a shopping complex and schools,” he said.

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