Over the years, as we have journeyed across the Western Cape Province participating in the Human Settlements programme to build affordable homes, we have always been struck by the uniqueness of these diverse communities, their sense of identity and pride and how their individual cultures permeate all aspects of their society – their struggles, beliefs, traditions, music, food, religion, fashion, activism, politics, philosophies…
We currently find ourselves being hosted in the colourful and vibrant Bonteheuwel, another suburb of Cape Town that has seen its own sets of challenges and struggles, and where for a long time (perhaps as far back as 1964) there have been no major infrastructure upgrades or housing developments.
The project
“It is a privilege for us to be part of this City of Cape Town project that is seeing the addition of a further 272 homes, across three sites, and to an area in which many housing beneficiaries have been on a waiting list for quite some time,” says Emil Young, ASLA’s housing contract manager on site. “Witnessing the delight on people’s faces on handover days – the momentous occasion of moving into, what is often, your first home (at sometimes over 70!) – is an experience that we will never tire of.”
The construction of the original housing in Bonteheuwel was undertaken between 1961 and 1964, with a housing profile that now consists of a dense mixture of single brick houses, semi-detached houses, and backyard dwellings. Following our successful installation of services to the three infill constructions sites (comprising of roads and water infrastructure), we hope to make good progress on the 272 top structures we have been appointed to construct.
An aerial perspective of one of the three construction sites
ASLA’s civils construction manager on site, Bernard Olivier, is currently overseeing the civil infrastructure construction. “In spite of being forewarned, we did not experience many community-related disruptions, and as on all our projects, we do our best to integrate into the community, to support local businesses and create employment for Bonteheuwel residents,” says Olivier. This has seen a population, mainly engaged in retail, expand its skills base to include construction related activities.
The impact
In addition to the provision of new homes, this project has other impacts and benefits, both short and longer term. These include procurement, skills development and job creation.
Procurement:
Two subcontractors from Bonteheuwel have installed the kerbing to the streets that weave through the new residential developments, while another subcontractor installed the gabions and retaining blocks. Anthony’s Building and Civils projects is one of the subcontractors on the project, and many of the basic supplies (pipes, netting, safety vests, paint etc.) are being procured from the local hardware store.
The little tuck shops that sell energy drinks have all done very well, as construction is thirsty work, in the hot summer months. It has also been hard to resist the delicious Cape Malay food and, in particular on a Friday at lunch time many of the ASLA site team join the queues in front of Shamim’s Take-Aways, in front of the mosque. The caravan’s kitchen serves some delicious meals that will be missed once the project is completed at the end of April, and many may have to resort to bringing their own lunch to work again!
Job creation
What better feeling could there be than participating in the construction of a buzzing housing development, that is directly benefiting your own community and the people you have grown up knowing?
Community liaison officer (CLO) Joy Ruiters, from Bonteheuwel, has worked as CLO on three different projects in the suburb and joined ASLA after responding to an advertisement at the local sub-council. “The ward councillor said, ‘we want Bonteheuwel to build Bonteheuwel’ and one of the things I was brought on board to do is facilitate the subcontractors and assist with the employment of local labour,” she says. Joy has also helped to community concerns and issues that have arisen.
“I feel so honoured to be part of this project, as this is an amazing change for Bonteheuwel. A lot of people will finally be a homeowner, never mind how small, and after living in a back yard a lot of people are really looking forward to this!” says Joy. “As a community person, I am glad when the people are glad!”
Bonteheuwel locals, Joy (left) and Jamie-Lee (right), at one of the three construction sites
Jamie-Lee Quickfour, who is from the Bonteheuwel community and now a fourth-year civil engineering student at CPUT, spent some time on site gaining practical experience in late 2024. “From a work perspective, the site was very interesting to me, as it is nice to apply the knowledge I have learned at university,” she says. “Also, as this was my first work experience, I really enjoyed that it was in the area that I am from – I sometimes see people that watched me grow up, and I remember an interaction with someone I know from being a child here who told me that I was building her house – after her waiting for twenty years!”
Jamie-Lee was guided by her high school teachers to pursue civil engineering studies and remembers writing motivational letters where she said that she did not know how she would do this, but she would like to make a difference in a community. “A few years later and I feel like I spoke it into existence,” says Jamie-Lee, “and I will now always be able to look back and say that I played a part in helping my community.”
Learnerships
The ASLA sites have also been used to provide practical experience for 18 youths from the Bonteheuwel community, who are enrolled at the Industries Education and Training Institute (IETI) where they are participating in the one-year learnership towards a Community House Building, Brick Laying and Carpentry certificate. Following three months of theory, they joined the ASLA team on site to gain hands-on experience of what it looks like, in practice, to construct a house from the foundations up.
One of the learners, 24-year-old Jamie Isaacs has been surprised as to how much she enjoys construction, in particular the practical aspect of it. “It’s amazing seeing a house being built from nothing, and these are going to look very nice,” she says. “I’m proud that I was able to help subcontractors build these houses, and when they are done, I can say that I was part of this. It also means a lot to the community – people that don’t have, will be getting a house and they will have a roof over their heads.”
Nicole Morkel who is also participating in the learnership says that everything on site was new for her, and that she never saw herself as someone who would enjoy getting their hands dirty. “It’s amazing – like when we walk in the road and people ask us if you’re one of the people building the houses, then I’m proud to say that yes, I am. Even though I am a student, I can still tell them what is happening here, and the fact, whoever is getting the houses will be able to live there soon,” she says. “I feel proud to be part of everything here.”
The group, that started their journey in June 2024, had originally responded to a call by Councillor Angus McKenzie, encouraging the Bonteheuwel youth job seekers to consider careers in construction. They will conclude their learnership in a few months, and we hope that they will enjoy long and fruitful careers in the industry.
8 of the 18 youths from the Bonteheuwel community, who are enrolled at the IETI, where they are participating in the one-year learnership towards a
The bigger picture
Within the South African construction landscape, the journey is rarely ever smooth, and we often face challenges that are not of our making. Nonetheless, we have a deep-seated belief across our organisation that the provision of social infrastructure is a doorway to restoring dignity, and this is encapsulated by our company slogan ‘dignity through infrastructure’.
“There are multiple factors that contribute to the legacy that we at ASLA want to leave behind,” says Young. “On the one hand it’s our personal legacy or a testimony to our having been part of something bigger. Something that is relevant and has made a difference. On the other hand, our work also contributes to the legacy of the local homeowner, as when we complete and hand over these homes to the community’s beneficiaries, it is often the start of a new chapter in their story. We are all looking forward to the day that the residents of the new homes here in Bonteheuwel will unlock their front doors for the first time and opening a door to future dreams and opportunities.”
