The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements has invited requests for proposal (RFPs) from the built industry to contribute in the creation of new housing mega projects in Gauteng.“The Department has initiated two processes to invite private sector companies to participate and submit Requests for Proposal to develop mega projects within the development corridors,” says MEC Jacob Mamabolo. “Tender is out and currently awaiting supply chain management to finalise procurement processes. In addition a call will be issued for companies to come forward to provide capacity for the development of the development corridors.”

Mamabolo says that the five economic development corridors which were announced by Premier David Makhura represent a radical spatial transformation of Gauteng from the apartheid type-planning to an inclusive and people-centred planning that takes into consideration the holistic need of the citizens of the province.

“We define the mega projects as a radical housing delivery management paradigm that seeks to move away from the current inefficient model to projects of a yield of no less than 15 000 units, either as an existing development cluster or as a new nodal development project,” he says.

He adds that key components of a mega project included secure and reliable biometric technology for beneficiary registration that will link subsidy to title deeds, complete eradication and basic provision informal settlements, including in-situ upgrading, de-congestion and reorganisation of space, mixed housing typologies to cater for various housing market segments, including those that fall out of the government subsidy bracket and provision of integrated primary (bulk) and secondary infrastructure.

Mamabolo says mega projects will also create jobs through business complexes and light industry, also promote cultural diversity and socially cohesive communities.

The total budget of the department is just under R6-billion. “This budget will allow us to create human settlements opportunities in various programmes including upgrading of informal settlements, FLISP, mixed housing development, rental, urban renewal programmes and mining towns,” he says.