The National Association of Social Housing Organisations (NASHO) has welcomed the George Local Municipality’s landmark Council resolution to release prime land for the Crocodile Farm Social Housing Project. NASHO views this move as a critical victory for spatial justice and a technical blueprint for municipalities nationwide, as it unlocks a projected investment of R260 million to R325 million for social housing.
The project’s overall value is estimated at R1 billion, with the balance comprising commercial retail and market-related housing opportunities. This development, situated in the Bos en Dal area, at the old “Crocodile Farm” site, is set to deliver 400 to 500 high-quality social housing units. By securing a long-term leasehold of at least 60 years, the project ensures that households earning between R1,850 and R22,000 per month are no longer pushed to the urban periphery, but are instead integrated into the heart of the local economy.
“NASHO supports this resolution because it moves beyond rhetoric and into high-impact delivery,” says Karabelo Pooe, General Manager of NASHO. “By leveraging municipal owned land, George is providing a clear roadmap for how local government can use municipal assets to dismantle the legacy of spatial apartheid.”