The Sol Plaatje Municipality is considering entering into an agreement with a private company to remove the city’s 80-year-old mining debris and using the soil to manufacture clay bricks for the construction of houses on the former dumping sites.
THE SOL Plaatje Municipality is considering entering into an agreement with a private company to remove the city’s 80-year-old mining debris and using the soil to manufacture clay bricks for the construction of houses on the former dumping sites.
The municipality confirmed on Tuesday that it was exploring a development agreement with the company Kimberley Rehabilitation and Development to “Change the Face of the City”, which will see the removal of the mining debris from selected sites to manufacture clay bricks.
Acting Municipal Manager, Boy Dhluwayo, said on Tuesday that the proposed project with KRD would see the re-working of the mining debris to manufacture SABS-approved clay bricks and other related clay products.
“This will in turn be used for residential and commercial developments planned and executed by KRD with the aim of alleviating the huge housing shortage and to provide commercial employment opportunities.”
Dhluwayo added that pending the feasibility of the proposal, the municipality intended to enter into a development agreement with KRD by making the land available for the identified purposes.
“It is estimated that the initiative will provide approximately 1500 direct and 2300 indirect permanent job opportunities. The development also provides for a number of other benefits including derelict land being brought into the urban space and stopping illegal dumping and the hosting of vagrants.”
He added that the land would contribute to the general income of the municipality through additional rates and taxes as well as income derived from the sale of services.
“Residents will be in close proximity to work opportunities and social facilities and will thus be able to save on exorbitant travelling costs which they incur by settling in the outer city limits.The proposed development also severely addresses the municipal housing backlog, while it will also ensure income to the municipality through a turnover sharing mechanism.”
Dhluwayo urged the public to be on the outlook for specific announcements and dates calling for interaction and participation in this project development consideration.
“We will also hold ward specific consultations with communities.”
KRD will table a detailed urban design and business plan to the municipality for consideration by September 30 2020.
Dhluwayo stated that the municipality would interrogate the business plan and formulate a development agreement (should the business plan be found to be viable) that will outline the role and responsibilities of the parties and structure the benefits accruing to the municipality
“The proposed development agreement will be presented and interacted with the public and in particular with the affected surrounding communities during October 2020. If there are no fatal flaws encountered, the Municipality intends to conclude the development agreement during the month of November.”
Kimberley Rehabilitation and Development, which is based in Jan van Zyl Street in Monument Heights was incorporated in February 2017.
The directors are listed as Gideon Kotze, Fernando Garcao and Ariel Garcao.
According to the application for environmental authorisation, which appeared in the DFA last month, the affected properties include the BMW site, the Colville site, the St Augustine site, the Vooruitzigt quarry and the Roodepan quarry.
