The City of Cape Town’s Public Housing Department and the National Housing Finance Corporation’s (NHFC) small and medium-size contractors have been hard at work at affordable rental units fixing fire-damaged flats across the metro and other priority work. This R150 million initiative is a collaboration between the NHFC and the City.
The repair and maintenance initiative not only focuses on addressing the service request backlogs, but is also urgently attending to fire-damaged units. Most of the units had been damaged due to petrol bomb attacks, stoves being left on and unattended by tenants, and illegal electrical connections, among others.
The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Malusi Booi, and officials visited a Community Residnetial Unit in Surwood Walk, Hanover Park today, 26 November 2021, to check on the programme’s progress and to communicate the importance of fire safety in Council flats.
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‘This R150 million initiative has seen incredible success since it was launched last year. Thus far, we completed repairs to more than 150 fire-damaged units in City-wide rental units. Our progress over the course of the programme has been on track and our work continues. The City’s CRUs undergo regular upgrades and maintenance with the limited budget that the City has, and with this initiative, we managed to reach many more units for their required repair and maintenance work far more quickly.
‘We urge residents to practice fire safety as we head into the festive season. Residents should remember not to leave an open flame unattended in their unit, not to cook late at night when they are tired and not to allow children to play near an open flame. If they have no other choice but to use an open flame, always place it in a can or fire-proof container surrounded by sand to reduce the risk of a fire occurring from a candle toppling over. Also keep a bucket of sand handy to douse small flames.
‘The City thanks its staff and the contractors for their hard work to this initiative this year, and we look forward to assisting many more residents over the coming weeks and into the new year,’ said Councillor Booi.
