For families who spent years living in the Kennedy Road Informal Settlement, Thursday, 13 August, marked the beginning of a new chapter as they received the keys to their new homes at Barton Place.
The handover was attended by Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane, UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma and eThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba.
The beneficiaries have been relocated from the Kennedy Road informal settlement to the new Barton Place development, which comprises 198 housing units for families from Wards 25 and 23.
For many of the beneficiaries, the handover represents more than receiving a house. It marks the end of years of uncertainty and the opportunity to build their lives in a safer and more secure environment.
Of the 198 planned units, 117 houses have already been completed, while a further 66 are being constructed during the current financial year. The remaining units are expected to be completed in the next financial year.
The development is aimed at providing families with permanent housing while improving living conditions for residents who have spent years in informal settlement conditions.
The handover also formed part of efforts to address the city’s ongoing housing backlog and provide dignified accommodation to families in need.
For the Kennedy Road families who received their keys, however, the numbers and plans mattered less than the moment they could finally open the doors to a place they could call home.
The Barton Place development is expected to provide not only shelter, but renewed hope, safety and dignity for families who have waited years for a permanent home.
