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The EU participation
in the development of the Cato Manor area is being directed into the following
six result areas:
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Infrastructure
Services
The EU funds will be used for the construction of several key projects,
including three primary schools, two secondary schools, two sports
fields, two community halls, a library, a health centre, a road, industrial
workshops and an administrative centre. The construction of two schools
and a sports field in Cato Crest will commence in January 1999, with
the work on the community hall and a library starting soon thereafter.
These projects are expected to be completed in 2000, ready for the
new school year. Construction of seven other buildings will also commence
in 1999.
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Housing
Finance
Small housing loans are being made available to needy families. These
loans will make it possible for people to build additional rooms to
their starter houses, or to top-up the current housing subsidy. Loans
will also be made available to emerging local contractors to help
them to build their capacity to undertake larger contracts.
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Income Generation
Many practical vocational training courses to improve employment prospects
of Cato Manor residents will be offered to interested persons. In
addition, some 20 industrial workshops will be constructed and made
available to emerging local businesses. These businesses will also
receive management and marketing support to help them succeed in their
endeavours.
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Support
Services
An administrative centre will be built which will become a focus of
the community's activities and will house many services dedicated
to improving the life of Cato Manor residents. Residents will also
receive support and training to increase their abilities to deal with
government, acquire a house, obtain a loan or subsidy, make repairs
to their houses, access job opportunities and generally improve their
life skills. The production of IZWI within the local community is
also being funded by the EU.
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Institutional
Capacity
The EU is also providing capacity building and support to the staff
of the CMDA to enhance their capacity to carry out the development
of Cato Manor. Th is concerns targeted professional staff training
and acquisition of equipment to raise the CMDA rate of delivery.
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Principles
Two principles, those of sustainability and replicability, are being
constantly kept in mind in the elaboration of the EU programme of
participation in the Cato Manor area development. The facilities and
services concerning the above five result areas must be provided in
a cost effective and sustainable way so that they may continue to
function and meet the needs of the local community. Similarly, the
solutions found for the particular conditions of the Cato Manor community
should have wider relevance and become advantageous to replicate and
apply elsewhere. In this way the EU hopes that its contribution will
go beyond the Cato Manor development programme by leaving behind a
lasting benefit of relevant responses to the challenges of orderly
and equitable urban growth in South Africa. The programme is managed
conjointly by the CMDA's CEO and the two member EU Technical Assistance
Team deployed from Doxiadis Associates, Consultants on Development
and Ekistics (Greece).
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