SA Affordable Housing September - October 2016 // Issue: 60 | Page 19

ADVERTORIAL

The key to success is not merely
building houses. It’s building
communities.

Aerial shot of Phase 1 and 2.

Bapala Park.

For example, the National Human Settlements Youth
Brigade was launched in Savanna City through the
National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and the
National Department of Human Settlements. The youth
brigade will train 10 000 young people over the next five
years. They will then contribute to the drive for new
housing all over the country. In fact, they will be
sufficiently trained and empowered so they can build their
own houses in future.

THE SAVANNA CITY RESERVOIR
Another key area in terms of sustainability is the
development of Savanna City’s own reservoir. As water
becomes an increasingly global problem, we have helped
ensure that the residents of the community and beyond
will benefit from their own contained water supply.
Savanna City reservoir.

SUSTAINABILITY AND PARTNERSHIP
New developments tend to be completed and then left to
its own devices. We have no intention of this happening to
Savanna City. Savanna is much, much more than a
development, it is a social project. For the residents of
Savanna, enjoying a quality lifestyle is dependent on good
amenities and services. As such there will be an ongoing
commitment to Savanna City, not just from Basil Read, but
from all our funding partners: Old Mutual, Government
Employees Pension Fund (GEPF), the Development Bank of
Southern Africa (DBSA), Eskom and Gauteng Province. Of
vital importance to sustainability is the relationship with
the neighbouring municipalities such as Midvaal,
Emfuleni, Sedibeng and the City of Johannesburg.
The vision of Savanna City extends far beyond creation of
a successful community. We want to instill a sense of
involvement and participation in the growth of the City.
This participation doesn’t just mean the residents being
involved in local activities. It means putting in place
concrete plans for community members to directly benefit
from growth. Therefore education programmes and skills
and enterprise development are at the very heart of the
Savanna City vision.

THE ARCHITECTURE OF
THE FULLY-SUBSIDISED HOMES
We didn’t simply build as many housing block units as we
could in the available space, but instead used advanced
architectural techniques to take affordable space design
and use it smartly to maximise the quality of the living
space.
We added to the living environment by elevating the roof.
This creates a greater feeling of space and reduces any
feeling of claustrophobia. Using an innovative colour
palette we were also able to turn the streets into an
exciting and colourful living area.
The basic model of two bedrooms also deliberately allows
for the extension to another room if the family should
wish to do so in future.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Savanna City’s future looks bright. We look forward to
using its success as a means to stimulate ever greater
success in eradicating the chronic housing shortage in
South Africa.
The key to success is not merely building houses.
It’s building communities.

AFFORDABLE
SA HOUSING

SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER 2016

17