Heritage Cases

The project area falls within the jurisdiction of the Okhahlamba Local Municipality, which is the largest of the three local municipalities making up the uThukela District Municipality of northern KwaZulu-Natal. The total population of the Okhahlamba Local Municipality, as recorded in the Census 2011 is estimated at 132 058 persons while the overall population of the Mamfemtheni Rural Housing project area is approximately 4 988 persons which resides in approximately 880 households within the project area. The Mamfemtheni project area is approximately 2617.75Ha in extent and is centrally located within the Okhahlamba Local Municipality. The project area consists of low to medium density rural settlements (scattered), with homesteads incorporating a mix of round and rectangular structures constructed of both traditional (mud brick, wattle and daub, thatch roof) and more modern or urban (cement blocks and corrugated iron roof) materials and techniques. While the exact nature of the housing project in terms of the application of the subsidies and the location of individual beneficiaries within the study area have not yet been specified, it is known that the proposed Rural Subsidised Housing project will result in the construction of approximately 1 500 new top structures within the project area, and will therefore service approximately 1 500 beneficiaries and their associated families. It is important to note that the proposed development is in-situ housing which entails construction of houses within the existing footprint.