Delays and Revisions: Killarney Gardens Housing Project in Limbo

In what was slated to be a beacon of hope for the crowded informal settlements of Dunoon in Cape Town, the Killarney Gardens housing project has been put on an indefinite pause, raising concerns and dissatisfaction among the community eagerly awaiting a solution to their housing needs. Originally, the housing initiative, championed by former Minister of Human Settlements Lindiwe Sisulu, promised to offer relief by accommodating 1,500 families. The endeavor was uniquely positioned in response to the exacerbating conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020, aiming to facilitate "de-densification" and improve living conditions.

After navigating the complex terrain of bureaucratic delays and objections related to town planning, construction finally seemed to take off in July 2022. This breakthrough injected a dose of optimistic anticipation into the beneficiaries poised to gain from the development. However, the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure has since raised the alarm over budgetary constraints, prompting a revision of the housing model. According to Jandre Bakker, the provincial infrastructure spokesperson, a more sustainable model is now under consideration. The shift to Duplex and simplex BNG units, while providing permanent accommodation, will result in a significant reduction in housing opportunities—from the initial 1,500 to just 488 units.

The financial aspect of the project's pause is non-negligible. To this point, fencing and site clearance have culminated in an expenditure of R26 million, with a current budget standing at R217 million, a figure which may undergo further scrutiny and revision. The project, aiming to adhere to the national housing code beneficiary qualification criteria, aims to prioritize the most vulnerable segments of the population. This includes the elderly, those living with disabilities, child-headed households, and long-standing applicants on the City of Cape Town's housing demand database.

Sinethembe Matomela from the project's steering committee underlined the dense population of Dunoon, illustrating the dire need for the housing project. Dunoon residents had their hopes pinned on the promises made when Sisulu announced the initiative. The delay comes as a blow that is expected to reverberate further disappointment and hurt throughout the community.

Though the site works had moved forward to the stage of bulk infrastructure being laid down as of February 2023, the community is left hanging in a limbo of indeterminate timelines. The updated completion date now hinges on the looming approval of the revised site development plan by the City of Cape Town Council. With the switch in project scope and the resultant delays, the Killarney Gardens housing project has inadvertently become a symbol of the myriad challenges inherent within South Africa's quest to combat the housing crisis, reflecting a broader narrative of anticipation, revision, and the uneasy wait for delivery.