South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasized the need for a more comprehensive approach to housing delivery, stating that government developments should not only provide families with homes but also create jobs, support local businesses, and bring communities closer to essential services and economic opportunities. Speaking at the Cornubia Integrated Human Settlement milestone celebration in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal, Ramaphosa highlighted the project's potential to drive economic growth and community development. The Cornubia project is a large-scale development designed to combine housing with schools, health facilities, shops, recreational spaces, and transport infrastructure.
The Cornubia development covers over 1,300 hectares and is expected to accommodate more than 110,000 people over the next 10 to 15 years. The project includes plans for schools, clinics, early childhood development centers, libraries, sports facilities, community halls, places of worship, and police stations. Ramaphosa described human settlements as catalysts for economic activity, arguing that communities should benefit from construction, maintenance, retail, and other opportunities created around housing projects. The President said the government intended to ensure that the development continued to support local participation and expand economic opportunities.
Ramaphosa's remarks came as the government marked progress at Cornubia, with over 2,600 houses delivered in the first phase, and further phases under construction. The wider project is expected to provide 12,593 housing units through different programs, including fully subsidized homes, social housing, and financing support for households in the so-called missing middle. One immediate priority is providing permanent accommodation for families displaced by the devastating floods that struck KwaZulu-Natal in 2022. Many affected households initially moved into emergency shelters and temporary accommodation after losing their homes.
During the event, houses were handed over to families affected by the floods. Ramaphosa said another 145 homes were under construction in Phase 2, and that the government expected a total of 460 permanent homes to have been completed by mid-2027. He acknowledged that the relocation process had taken years and that families who remained in temporary accommodation continued to face difficult living conditions. Some had struggled with cramped accommodation, limited access to public transport, and long journeys to school for children.
Ramaphosa stressed that emergency accommodation must never become a permanent way of life, and that the ultimate objective must be permanent housing that restores dignity and provides families with a stable foundation. The President also recognized that the government could not celebrate completed houses without addressing the people who were still waiting. He said delays in construction, beneficiary lists, and the issuing of title deeds needed to be resolved, with clear timelines communicated to affected communities.
Beyond the provision of housing, the economic potential of Cornubia is becoming increasingly important to the project. The Cornubia Business Park, which is being developed alongside the residential areas, has already created approximately 300 jobs during construction. The wider development is expected to generate more than 2,000 jobs. Ramaphosa said investment in eThekwini could create further opportunities for residents, but argued that people needed affordable housing close to employment centers to benefit from that growth.
The government is also seeking to change its wider housing model, with Ramaphosa stating that it was expanding affordable housing, working to revitalize commuter rail, releasing well-located public land, and introducing subsidy arrangements to help people build, buy, or rent homes in suitable areas. According to figures cited by Ramaphosa, more than five million housing opportunities have been delivered since the beginning of democratic government in 1994. However, rapid urbanization and population growth have continued to increase demand, with nearly four million people remaining on the national housing needs register.
Key points
- The Cornubia Integrated Human Settlement project aims to provide 12,593 housing units and create over 2,000 jobs.
- President Ramaphosa emphasizes the need for a broader approach to housing delivery, focusing on job creation and community growth.
- The project is expected to accommodate over 110,000 people and drive economic growth in eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal.
