- The Edward Avenue housing project in Ottery, delayed for over a year due to extortion and criminal activities, was relaunched on February 19 with promises to complete houses by the end of 2025.
- City officials, including Mayco member Carl Pophaim, addressed security measures implemented to combat crime and extortion and emphasized the importance of community unity in overcoming these challenges.
- Beneficiaries, like Myrna August and Alistair Hartogh, expressed relief after waiting over two decades for their homes and are hopeful for progress by the end of the year.
A housing project in Ottery, delayed for more than a year, allegedly due to extortion and criminality, is set to start in earnest with promises of houses to be built and completed by the end of the year.
Last week Wednesday 19 February, a “relaunch sod-turning ceremony” was held with City officials and beneficiaries of the Edward Avenue housing project.
Beneficiaries and City officials waited close to 30 minutes in scorching heat for Mayco member of human settlements Carl Pophaim to make an appearance.
“I am so pleased to be here today to see this R52 million project progress,” he shared when he arrived. “This project includes not only the houses, but also the electrification and public lighting, landscaping and sidewalks.”
He reported that the project was unfortunately impacted by criminality and extortion.
“This is not okay, we cannot allow extortion and criminals demanding protection money or cuts of project values to be the norm and we will fight it with all we have,” said Pophaim. “We therefore spent much focus on reducing risks and enhanced security and monitoring was implemented to deal with the threats. These criminals cannot and will not be allowed to take housing opportunities from those who most need them.”
Pophaim urged the community to unite against crime and extortion. “When we work together with our communities, we can overcome these challenges. This is why we must continue to say enough is enough and stand together to fight criminality and extortion.” Subcouncil 18 chair Kevin Southgate, who attended the ceremony, thanked beneficiaries for their patience.
“I wish to thank the beneficiaries for their patience and for allowing the City to engage in the process of appointing a new contractor following the cancellation of the last contractor,” he said. “It is said that every failure is an opportunity to start again, and so we are here today to celebrate with you the start of the building of the top structures. I want to encourage the community to take ownership of the project and to ensure that no one interferes or tries to stop the project.”
Southgate added that a new contractor has since been appointed for the project.
“The City has appointed an experienced contractor and I’m confident that the project will be a success,” he commented. “As the Subcouncil, we will continue to monitor and exercise oversight of the project.”
In October 2023, People’s Post was present when the same promises were made in the dusty open field during the first sod-turning ceremony.
At the time, City officials promised that the first 30 houses should be built and completed by December that year (“Homes in time for Christmas”, People’s Post, 24 October 2023).
According to the City, the project is expected to be completed by the end of this year, if all goes according to plan.
For beneficiaries, it has been a very long and arduous wait since signing up for the project over 20 years ago.
Myrna August, a mother of four, said it has been a hard and long wait for a home.
“I was pregnant with my son, who this year turns 25 and is a married man, when I applied for this housing project. We are only going to get the houses now,” she shared.
August described how the long wait for a house impacted her.
“It has been a very long wait and what is also disturbing is that I could not in this time apply for a council flat to live in because on their system I was already a ‘homeowner’ for signing for this housing project,” she explained.
“But how can you be a homeowner when you don’t have a house?
“We had to sign a deed of sale although there was no house.”
She currently lives in her deceased father’s property but will be moving shortly.
She hopes to be in her own home before the end of the year.
“All I can do now is hope and pray that everything will go quickly.”
Alistair Hartogh, another beneficiary, shared how he and his family have already moved and lived in different places 17 times.
“We are currently living in Schaapskraal and have been staying there for seven years,” he shared.
“We have moved around 17 times already but I can only say that I’m so grateful to God because everything is looking positive.”
The Hartogh family is hopeful that this is the year they move into their own home.
“This is the 18th year we are waiting for our house because it was delayed,” he added. “We waited and remained in prayer and now hopefully it will finally be happening.”
