Location: 63 St Ives Road, Bellair, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Project Name: Hamptons Social Housing Project
Ward: Ward 65
Budget: Approximately R70 million
Completion Date: 2017/18
Units Delivered: Approximately 300 affordable rental units
Developers: First Metro Housing Company (FMHC)
Funding Partners: KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements, Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA)
Project Type: Institutional Subsidy Social Housing
Target Beneficiaries: Low- to middle-income households earning between R1,500 and R15,000 per month
Occupancy Status: Occupied

Project Overview
The Hamptons Social Housing Project, developed by First Metro Housing Company (FMHC), was completed in the 2017/18 period. Located on St Ives Road in Bellair, Durban, the project consists of approximately 300 affordable rental units aimed at addressing the housing needs of low- to middle-income households.

This development is part of a broader initiative by the eThekwini Municipality and the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements to provide quality rental housing options in urban areas. The project was officially opened for occupation in the 2017/18 period, adding 300 affordable rental opportunities to the city.

Stakeholders Involved
First Metro Housing Company (FMHC): The developer and managing entity responsible for the construction and operation of the housing units.

KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements: Provided funding and policy support for the project.

Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA): Oversaw the accreditation and regulatory compliance of the project.

​THE lives of the Hlongwane family has improved for the better following the allocation of a brand new house as part of the Trenance Park 2B Housing Project in Verulam. This came at an opportune time as the family grappled with caring for 81-yearold Aloisia Hlongwane of Verulam, ward 59, who unexpectedly suffered a stroke.
Read More: https://bit.ly/3sH5Yb6

Location: Near N3, Ward 33, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal
Project Type: Community Rental Housing for low-income households
Developer: Motheo Construction Group
Client: Msunduzi Municipality
Funding: KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements and uMgungundlovu District Municipality
Total Budget: R445 million
Phase 1A Budget: R164 million
Total Units Planned: 760
Phase 1A Units Built: 404 two-bedroom units
Target Tenants: Households earning R800 to R3,500 per month

Key Dates:

October 2020: Construction of Phase 1A begins

July 3, 2023: First tenants move in (2 families)

October 13, 2023: 106 families have moved in

January 25–27, 2024: Issues reported about misuse of units and affordability complaints

March 31, 2025: Fire in informal area displaces over 70 families

Challenges:

Some tenants illegally subletting units

Allegations that municipal officials are occupying flats

Utility costs reportedly unaffordable for many residents

Residents in informal section still vulnerable to fire and disasters

Picture source: Project photos are published by Witness, Daily News, and GroundUp news websites under coverage of the project and events.

Suitable and capable service providers are invited to bid for the Appointment of a panel of service
providers for supply, delivery and offloading of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the
Department for a period of thirty-six (36) months
Department reserves the right to:
(i) To accept part of a tender rather than the whole tender.
(ii) To carry out site inspections, product evaluations or explanatory meetings in order to
verify the nature and quality of the services offered by the bidder(s), whether before or
after adjudication of the Bid.
(iii) To correct any mistakes at any stage of the tender that may have been in the Bid
documents or occurred at any stage of the tender process.
(iv) To cancel and/or terminate the tender process at any stage, including after the Closing
Date and/or after presentations have been made, and/or after tenders have been
evaluated and/or after the preferred bidder(s) have been notified of their status as such.
(v) The department publishes all awards on departmental website, thereafter, publishes the award on e-
tender portal after receiving an acceptance from the successful bidder.
(vi) Bidders are urged to visit www.kzndard.gov.za/tenders/videos-supplierdevelopment for ease of
completing the bid document.

https://www.kzndard.gov.za/images/Documents/TENDERS/2025/ADVERTISED_BIDS/DARD-24.2024---Appointment-of-a-panel-of-service-providers-for-supply-delivery-and-offloading-of-personal-protective-equipment-PPE-to-the-Department-for-a-period-of-thirty-six.pdf

ABOUT 120 families of Waterloo were overwhelmed with joy as the eThekwini Municipality recently handed over the keys to their new homes in Hammonds Farm. For many Waterloo residents the dream of living in proper houses with running water and electricity seemed to be an impossible prospect. However these dreams were made a reality for some as they were given keys and allocation documents that declared them owners of their own proper houses, which were of high quality. A housing project which initially began in 2007, but due to challenges such as environmental constraints and ground and earthworks, the construction process was slightly delayed until geotechnical engineers approved the earthworks.

The construction resumed in February 2010 and through hard work from the construction and engineering team the project is finally coming to an end and the results are more than satisfactory to the eThekwini Municipality, the construction team and most importantly the people who matter the most which are the community members whom the houses were built for. Chairman of the Human Settlements and Infrastructure, Cllr Nigel Gumede said, “Hammonds Farm housing project is one of its kind and its one of the elements that we have received the Govan Mbeki Human Settlements Award.

We want to change the face of eThekwini through social housing and slums clearance programme. Residents must be assured that housing is the priority of the City.” Beneficiaries could not contain their excitement and were stunned by the way in which the houses were built. An 82-year-old beneficiary, Anita Dube said that she is very grateful to her Ward 58 Cllr Mxolisi Ndzimbomvu who has been taking care of her. “Most beneficiaries that were allocated are from informal settlements and others are those of special cases and were living in a community hall”, added Ndzimbomvu. An emotional Zwelile Ncane, said “ I cannot believe that my dream of owning my own house came true as I had given up hope.” She has been residing in a community hall in Waterloo. Nelson Simanse who also received a house said he felt like he was moving into a mansion compared to the room he was living in, which was in a school nearby. Hammonds Farm Housing project did not only deliver houses to the people but also created job opportunities for local people in the area.

THOKOZANI NDLOVU

thokozani.ndlovu@durban.gov.za

For the first time in her life Mhlongo has decent house that she can call home thanks to the Cornubia Human Settlement Project.

The eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu- Natal recently handed over homes to 154 families as part of the housing project.

Situated in Mount Edgecombe, north of Durban, the project is worth R25 billion and is set to house people from different parts of eThekwini, while adopting the human settlements approach of integrating people from all walks of life and building an environment with allows easy access to facilities.

The mixed-use project also includes an industrial area and retail services, schools, clinics and other public services.

The first batch of homes, allocated as part of Phase 1A of the project, cost R102 million. Mhlongo, who lived in an informal settlement at Phola Park, Phoenix, was one of those who received a home during this phase.

“The challenges that I faced at the informal settlement have been left behind and my life has completely transformed. I will not have to deal with flooding if it rains or the burning down of houses. Here, I have all the basic services like electricity and water in my new home with proper ablution facilities,” she said.

Mhlongo’s new home consists of two bedrooms, a lounge, a kitchen and ablution facilities - a far cry from the usual one-bedroom RDP starter homes.

With an industrial area under construction near the housing project, Mhlongo hopes for better employment opportunities.

eThekwini Municipality Mayor James Nxumalo said the municipality would ensure that homes were allocated to the right people.

“We want the new owners to treat these housing units as their homes, not as an informal settlement. We will ensure that the right people are allocated houses and monitor compliance. Thereafter, no one is allowed to sublet or sell the housing unit, as it belongs to the government," he stressed.

Various informal settlements including Blackburn, Stonebridge, Ridgeview and 13th Street in Clermont as well as transit camps, will be relocated as part of the first phase of the housing project.

Ridgeview informal settlement will be completely demolished and closed off, as all residents will be moved to Cornubia.

Construction of the next phase - 1B, which is expected to result in 2 186 housing units at a cost of about R560 million, is expected to start soon.

* Slindile Maluleka works for the eThekwini Municipality.

Since 1994 South Africa has seen a tremendous growth in the provision of homes.

Over the years government invested more than R100 billion to provide housing opportunities, ensuring that 12 million people now have a place to call home.

About 5 677 614 formal homes have been built over the past 20 years.

The number of people living in formal housing increased from 64 per cent in 1996 to 77.7 per cent in 2011.

The proportion of households living in informal dwellings decreased from 16.2 per cent in 1996 to 13.6 per cent in 2011.

Suitable and capable service providers are invited to bid for the Appointment of service providers (for two
clusters: South & North) to supply, deliver and offload lime, gypsum and fertilizer (including
micronutrients and speciality products for the period of thirty-six (36) months
Department reserves the right to:
(i) To accept part of a tender rather than the whole tender.
(ii) To carry out site inspections, product evaluations or explanatory meetings in order to
verify the nature and quality of the services offered by the bidder(s), whether before or
after adjudication of the Bid.
(iii) To correct any mistakes at any stage of the tender that may have been in the Bid
documents or occurred at any stage of the tender process.
(iv) To cancel and/or terminate the tender process at any stage, including after the Closing
Date and/or after presentations have been made, and/or after tenders have been
evaluated and/or after the preferred bidder(s) have been notified of their status as such.
(v) The department publishes all awards on departmental website, thereafter, publishes the award on e-
tender portal after receiving an acceptance from the successful bidder. However, due to
inability of the e-tender portal to advertise the awards of panels, the department advertises all panel
awards on the departmental website.
(vi) Bidders can access www.kzndard.gov.za/tenders/videos for ease of completing the bid document.

https://www.kzndard.gov.za/images/Documents/TENDERS/2025/ADVERTISED_BIDS/DARD-20.24---Appointment-of-service-providers-for-two-clusters_north-and-south-to-supply-deliver-and-offload-lime-gypsum-and-fertilizer-including-micronutrients.pdf

Project Name: Signal Hill Social Housing Project
Location: 45 Nienaber Road, Signal Hill, Pietermaritzburg, 3201
City: Pietermaritzburg
Province: KwaZulu-Natal
Completion Date: 2008
Estimated Budget: R71 million
Project Type: Social Housing
Target Group: Low- to middle-income households
Developer: Capital City Housing
Occupancy Status: Occupied

Description:
The Signal Hill Social Housing Project is a well-established residential development in Pietermaritzburg, developed by Capital City Housing. It was completed in 2008 as part of a broader effort to provide affordable rental units for households earning modest incomes. Though the exact number of units isn't specified, the project is noted for its contribution to sustainable social housing in the inner-city area.

Capital City Housing is one of South Africa’s leading social housing institutions, offering managed rental solutions that cater to income groups that fall between the R1,500 and R15,000 per month range.

Companies Involved:
Capital City Housing – Developer and manager of the housing scheme.

Picture Source:
Signal Hill Project Page on Capital City Housing Website

In 2021, the eThekwini Municipality announced plans to upgrade the Thandanani and Havelock informal settlements in Ward 34, Durban. The upgrades were designed as in-situ developments—improving water, sanitation, electricity, and road access without relocating residents.

However, by mid-2022, the project faced major opposition from Greenwood Park ratepayers, who filed a petition (signed by over 250 people) objecting to the lack of public consultation, the temporary nature of the upgrades, and fears around declining property values, rising crime, and overloaded infrastructure.

Havelock, badly damaged by a fire in December 2019, and Thandanani, which faces similar hazards and land use challenges, were both placed on hold by 2023, pending further stakeholder engagement.

Although eThekwini has since advanced its Community Development Programme (CDP) in 2023–2024, Thandanani was not included in the initial seven pilot sites. The delay has highlighted deep tensions between formal residential areas and informal settlements, especially around land rights and long-term development planning.

The upgrade effort involves key partners:

eThekwini Municipality (since 2021)

Project Preparation Trust (PPT)

uTshani Fund & CORC

Shack/Slum Dwellers International (SDI)

University of KwaZulu-Natal and University of Westminster (via ISULabaNtu project, active since ~2019)

As of mid-2024, the municipality has signaled intent to reopen dialogue, but no formal construction or rollout has begun. Experts continue to advocate for community-led, incremental upgrading and the allocation of serviced plots with secure tenure as a more sustainable alternative.