KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube has unveiled the Empangeni Integrated Residential Development Programme (IRDP) Phase 2, identified as a mega catalytic project, which is set to drastically accelerate and sustain delivery of housing opportunities in the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast.
The focal point of the launch was the Aquadene Housing Project, a key component of the Empangeni IRDP, which the provincial government has fast-tracked through the installation of bulk services to enable the project to commence, despite the fact that provisioning of water and sanitation bulk services is a responsibility of King Cetshwayo District Municipality.
Dube-Ncube said at the launch that beyond providing housing solutions, the initiative holds the potential to significantly boost the economic prowess of the municipality through increased revenue collection.
“As a mixed-use project with diverse typologies, including Breaking New Ground, First Home Finance, Rental Stock and Serviced Sites, the IRDP aims to generate approximately 10 000 housing possibilities. This ambitious target was set to be achieved through the implementation of various policy instruments designed to address the diverse housing needs of the community,” Dube-Ncube said.
Some of the substantial progress witnessed during the initial phases of the Empangeni IRDP Project includes the completion of a considerable amount of earthwork, primarily in the form of vital internal services, and the establishment of an extensive road network at the IRDP site near the Qalakabusha Correctional Centre, situated on the outskirts of the Empangeni central business district.
The infrastructure for bulk water and sanitation was also successfully integrated into the project, and the road network extending from the IRDP site to Owen Sithole Agricultural College and further to Dondotha, showcased the careful planning and execution of the project’s infrastructure.
“These developments not only aimed at providing housing solutions but also at enhancing connectivity and accessibility within the region,” Dube-Ncube said.
