NMBM CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE HOUSING PROVISION
Published: February 10, 2026<< BACK TO NEWS
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The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) continues to make steady progress in accelerating housing delivery in Motherwell, with housing developments that are restoring dignity and improving the quality of life for vulnerable residents, particularly the elderly, child-headed households and people living with disabilities.
The Metro is currently implementing a large-scale housing development in Motherwell NU 30, which is expected to yield a total of 1 837 housing units. The first 200 units were completed during the 2024/25 financial year, marking an important milestone in the Municipality’s housing delivery programme. A new implementation agreement has since been concluded for the construction of an additional 500 units.
Of the 500 units approved for construction, the Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements has funded 136 units for the 2025/26 financial year, with an allocated budget of R30 million. These units are expected to be completed by the end of March 2026. Further funding requests have been submitted for the remaining 364 units to ensure continuity of construction and to avoid project delays.
According to the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s Human Settlements Directorate, the allocation of housing units continues to prioritise vulnerable groups in line with Council policy. In affirmation of this commitment, the Municipality’s Housing Delivery Sub-Directorate handed over 32 houses to qualifying beneficiaries in Motherwell, Ward 54, last Friday.
Addressing the Metro’s commitment to reducing the housing backlog of more than 100 000 units, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Human Settlements, Councillor Thembinkosi Mafana, said the Municipality has intensified efforts to strengthen its internal systems and delivery capacity.
"Significant progress has been made in improving our internal capacity and project management systems. Through sustained collaboration with the Provincial and National Departments of Human Settlements, we are positioning the Municipality to deliver at scale and to make a measurable impact on the housing backlog. Subject to budget availability, we remain confident that we will meet our housing delivery targets and provide safe and dignified homes to our communities,” said Councillor Mafana.
The Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Councillor Lobishe, said the housing programme demonstrates the practical implementation of cooperative governance as envisaged in Section 41(1)(h) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, which obliges all spheres of government to cooperate, coordinate their actions and support one another in service delivery, including housing.
She further emphasised that the Municipality’s housing delivery approach is aligned to the District Development Model (DDM), which promotes a "One Plan, One Budget, One Approach” to development. Through the DDM, the Municipality works closely with national and provincial departments to align planning, budgeting and implementation, ensuring that housing delivery is integrated with bulk infrastructure, social services and economic development initiatives.
"I am encouraged by the positive results that are emerging from improved coordination between all spheres of government. Through the District Development Model, we are ensuring that government works as one in responding to the needs of our people. It is deeply moving to see residents who have lived in informal structures for many years receiving houses for the first time, especially those who are most vulnerable in our society,” said Executive Mayor Lobishe.
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