The final 135 registered title deeds in the Masakhane IRPD (Integrated Residential Development Programme) housing project have been handed over in Gansbaai, bringing the total number of new homes delivered to 295.
Construction of the final phase began in April 2023 and was completed by March 2024. It followed the successful delivery of 150 homes in the first phase that was finalised in March 2023. The building work was carried out by contractor Power/Lucon Construction JV, under the management of implementing agent MCape.
The total cost of building the homes came to just over R58 million, with the overall investment – including civil infrastructure – totalling more than R77.6 million.
On Thursday, 24 July 2025, Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers, alongside Overstrand Executive Mayor, Archie Klaas, officially handed over the title deeds to a group of new homeowners – the last beneficiaries in a project that has delivered 295 homes to the Masakhane community.
During the handover on Thursday, 24 July 2025, Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers, joined Overstrand Executive Mayor Archie Klaas to welcome the latest group of homeowners.
Minister Simmers said that owning a home is about more than just having a roof over your head, it brings dignity, security, and opportunity.
He urged residents to use their homes as intended – for living, not for running taverns or gambling spots. “That’s where trouble starts in a community. A tuck shop should not take the place of a family home,” he said. “Selling your house and going back to being a backyard dweller is not progress. People must understand the value of what they’ve received and make informed choices. This is how we continue building communities that thrive.”
Mayor Klaas, known for acknowledging the often unseen work behind projects like these, praised everyone involved in making the Masakhane housing project possible.
“Housing delivery doesn’t happen overnight – it takes time and co-operation,” he said. “My sincere thanks go to all our implementing partners, as well as our ward councillors, municipal staff in the Housing Department and Project Management Unit, and the community structures who worked hard to make this possible.”
The Masakhane housing project has been years in the making. Pre-planning funding was submitted to the Department of Human Settlements in 2012 and approved in July 2013. Town planning approval (LUPO) followed in March 2018.
Civil infrastructure funding was approved in November 2018, with installation starting in February 2019. However, due to the presence of informal settlers on 42 sites, only 254 erven were completed by December 2019. Once the affected residents were successfully relocated, the remaining infrastructure was finished by June 2021. The total cost of the civil works amounted to R19 562 440.
After feasibility studies and contractor appointments, construction of the houses (known as top structures) began in mid-2022 and is now fully completed.
No words captured the significance of the day better than those of 77-year-old Nyanisile Yalezo, who said receiving the transport papers represented a lifelong dream fulfilled. “I’ve lived in backyard rooms most of my life. To finally have a home I can call mine, with a toilet inside the house, it’s a blessing,” he said, holding back tears.
