Number of site visits were done at Dobsonville for Social Housing Project. Challenges, which were raised by broader community of Dobsonville, are closer to being solved.
Executive management team of Johannesburg Social Housing Company (Joshco) accompanied Department of Housing MMC Councillor Meshack Van Wyk engaged with the community.
Wyk said they realised that Dobsonville Social Housing Project is a demonstration of collective effort. This includes political and administrative leadership of City of Johannesburg.
“The vision of becoming a high performing beneficiary-centric organisation, active engagement with the affected community was prioritised and fulfilled. There was a public meeting of stakeholders on the 27 June 2019. They were given opportunity to express their views upon the project. Amongst the commitments made at the public meeting, helpdesk would be established on the site to address all queries”, he said.
Wyk said on 15 July, they upheld commitment and had pleasure of attending JOSHCO’s Open Day, at Dobsonville Social Housing Project. This is where helpdesk was launched.
“Over 200 people attended the applications for rentals opportunities that were being administered. The promise for people of Dobsonville at different community meetings were fulfilled. The event displayed democracy in action as the department responded to the people’s wanted platform to engage on all issues concerning housing”, said Wyk.
He added that Social Housing project caters for residents who earn a monthly income of R1 500 to R15 000. Rentals differ from R850 to R1 300 for one bedroom and R1 800 to R3 700 for two bedroom flat.
“The opportunity for rental applications, RDP queries and job seekers run from 15 to 19 July 2019. Sizeable turnout of people at the launch of helpdesk brings the fore a desperate need by our people for affordable rental accommodation. We remain hopeful that recent release of over 80 properties in the Inner City will lead to additional capacity needed in the affordable rental market. Dobsonville Social Housing Project is currently the only one open”, said Wyk.
