Infrastructure
(1) What infrastructure projects are currently underway in the George Municipality and, in each case, (a) what is the project, (b) what are the costs and (c) when will it be completed;
(2) what infrastructure projects are planned for the George Municipality over the next three financial years and, in each case, (a) what is the project, (b) what will be the cost and (c) what are the planned start and completion dates?
BRANCH HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
- The Department confirms that there are three (3) human settlements infrastructure projects targeted for the George Municipality included in the current 2025/2026 business plan under the Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG), and one (1) project under the Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership Grant (ISUPG).
Table 1: HSDG projects currently underway in George Municipality in the 2025/26 Financial Year
Project Description | Housing Units underway | Funding |
Metro Grounds (632) | 212 | R57,178,000 |
Thembalethu (300 BNG Units) | 100 | R20,688,000 |
Syferfontein East | 98 | R83,628,000 |
George Total | 407 | R161,494,000 |
Table 2: ISUPG project currently underway in George Municipality in the 2025/26 Financial Year
Project Description | Serviced sites underway | Funding |
Thembalethu (1753 of 4350)(1753-456=1297) | 114 | R11,500,000 |
George Total | 114 | R11,500,000 |
A detailed overview of the projects is given below:
Metro Grounds Phases 1, 2 & 3
(a) The Metro Grounds project entails the delivery of 632 Breaking New Ground (BNG) top structures across three phases in the Metro Grounds development, consisting of 236 units in Phase 1, 200 units in Phase 2, and 196 units in Phase 3. The project was approved in 2021 and started with the construction of phases 1and 2 in September 2022. Phases 1 and 2 have reached full completion with 436 units constructed and delivered, including installation of solar geysers. Phase 3 is still underway, with 97 practical completions, 29 units delivered, and 180 solar geysers installed.
(b) Approved funding on the 2025/2026 Business Plan is R57 178 000, and the expenditure to date for the current financial year is R49 466 820.53 (86.51%).
(c) The project is advanced and completion for the construction contract is anticipated before the end of the 2025/2026 financial year.
Thembalethu HSDG
(a) The Thembalethu HSDG project comprises 300 BNG houses to be constructed over three financial years 2025/2026, 2026/27 and 2027/28.
(b) Approved funding on the 2025/2026 Business Plan is R20 688 000, and the expenditure to date for the current financial year is R6 707 724 (32.42%).
(c) The project is planned to be concluded in the 2027/2028 financial year.
UISP: Thembalethu ISUPG Project
(a) The Thembalethu project is for the upgrading of informal settlements which entails the servicing of 114 sites.
(b) Approved funding on the 2025/25 business plan is R11 500 000 and the expenditure to date for the current financial year is R4 450 289 (39%).
(c) Implementation is ongoing, and completion is targeted for early in the 2026/2027 financial year.
Syferfontein East
(a) The Syferfontein Combined project that is on the business plan for the 2025/26 financial year entails the construction of 57 Integrated Residential Development Programme (IRDP) top structures. The Syferfontein housing project is part of the Syferfontein catalytic project, which started in with the first construction phase in 2018 and has multiple phases. Since the start of the project 1238 houses have already been delivered during previous phases. The current construction at Phase C will deliver 57 houses by the end of the 2025/26 financial year.
(b) Approved funding on the 2025/2026 Business Plan is R71 772 000, and the expenditure to date for the current financial year is R67 963 918.93 (94.69%).
(c) The current completion date for this Syferfontein East is estimated to be in the 2029/2030 financial year.
Syferfontein East Phase A (41 MV top structures)
(a) The Syferfontein East Phase A entails the construction of 41 IRDP top structures for military veterans. This project started with construction on 7 March 2025.
(b) Approved funding on the 2025/2026 Business Plan is R11 856 000, and the expenditure to date for the current financial year is R9 387 219 (79.18%).
(c) Implementation is progressing well. Current status is, 41 Floor Slabs completed, 41 Wall Plates completed, 30 Roofs completed, and 30 units completed and handed over. Completion is targeted for the 2026/2027 financial year.
- The Department confirms that there are four (4) infrastructure projects for the George Municipality included in the Business Plan that are scheduled for planning and implementation over the next three financial years under the Human Settlements Development Grant (HSDG), as well as one (1) project under the Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership Grant (ISUPG) planned for the same period as listed in the tables below.
Table 3: HSDG planned projects in George Municipality in the next three financial years
2026/27 FY | 2027/28 FY | 2028/29 FY | ||||
Project Description | Planned Housing Units | Funding | Planned Housing Units | Funding | Planned Housing Units | Funding |
Thembalethu (718 additional sites) (300 additional Units) | 50 | R23,097,000 | 150 | R16,360,000 | 0 | R0 |
Syferfontein Combined (transfer 200) (Departmental Allocation) | 83 | R10,000,000 | 0 | R3,100,000 | 0 | R12,800,000 |
Syferfontein East Phase A (41 MV top structures) | 0 | R1,000,000 | 0 | R0 | 0 | R0 |
Metro Grounds (664) (Transfers 200@R (Dept Allocation) | 0 | R1,508,000 | 0 | R0 | 0 |
R0 |
George Total | 133 | R35,605,000 | 150 | R19,460,000 | 0 | R12,800,000 |
Table 4: ISUPG planned projects in George Municipality in the next three financial years
2026/27 FY | 2027/28 FY | 2028/29 FY | ||||
Project Description | Planned Serviced Sites | Funding | Planned Serviced Sites | Funding | Planned Serviced Sites | Funding |
Thembalethu (1753 of 4350)(1753-456=1297) | 0 | R 8,309,000 | 0 | R 0 | 0 | R 0 |
George Total | 0 | R 8,309,000 | 0 | R 0 | 0 | R 0 |
A detailed overview of the projects is given below:
Metro Grounds Phase 1, 2 & 3
(a) The Metro Grounds project started with the construction of phase 1and 2 in September 2022.
(b) The planned funding on the 2026/27 business plan is R1,508,000, which will conclude this project. These funds are reserved in the 2026/2027 financial year for the release of retention funds that will be paid out to the Contractor 3 months after completion of the project.
(c) The planned completion date is within the 2026/27 financial year.
UISP: Thembalethu Project
(a) The Thembalethu ISUPG project is for the upgrading of informal settlements which entails the servicing of 114 sites.
(b) The planned funding on the 2026/27 business plan is R8 309 000, which will conclude this project. For this project, there are currently no funds allocated in the 2027/2028 and 2028/2029 financial years.
(c) The planned completion date is currently within the 2026/27 financial year.
HSDG: Thembalethu
(a) The Thembalethu HSDG project comprises 300 BNG houses to be constructed over three financial years 2025/2026, 2026/27 and 2027/28.
(b) The allocated funding on the 2026/2027 financial year is R23 097 000 for the delivery of 50 houses. The allocated funding for the 2027/2028 financial year is R16 360 000 for the delivery of 150 houses. For this project, there are no funds allocated in the 2028/2029 financial year.
(c) The project is planned to be concluded in the 2027/2028 financial year.
Syferfontein East
(a) The Syferfontein housing project, a catalytic project, follows a phased implementation and will not be fully developed soon. Phase B1 of the project is planned for the 2026/2027 financial year which will deliver 83 BNG units and Phase B4 and B5 is planned for the 2027/2028 and 2028/2029 financial years.
(b) The allocated funding on the 2026/2027 financial year is R10 000 000 for the delivery of 83 houses, which will conclude Phase B1 of the project. The allocated funding for Phases B4 and B5 of this project is R3 100 000 for the 2027/2028 financial year and R12 800 000, for the 2028/2029 financial year.
(c) The current completion date for this Syferfontein East is estimated to be in the 2029/2030 financial year.
Syferfontein East Phase A (41 MV top structures)
(a) The Metro Grounds project started with construction of the 41 military veterans BNG houses for Phase A of the project on 7 March 2025.
(b) The planned funding on the 2026/27 business plan is R1,000,000, which will conclude this project.
(c) The planned completion date is within the 2026/27 financial year.
BRANCH: PROVINCIAL PUBLIC WORKS
Response to 17(1) – projects currently in construction:
Project Name | Project Description | Current Budget | Start Date | Completion Date |
Imizamo Yetho | Clubhouse, change rooms, relocation of cricket facilities and upgrading of parking area | R11,273,840 | 1-Jul-25 | 12-Dec-25 |
Outeniqua CYCC | Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) installation to uninterrupted power supply | R9,338,929 | 24-Sep-25 | 6-Mar-26 |
Outeniqua Research Farm | Rooftop solar PV installation | R2,049,831 | 13-Oct-25 | 6-Mar-26 |
George Hospital | Ventilation upgrade at George Hospital | R9,548,000 | 30-Apr-25 | 30-Jun-26 |
Response to 17(2) – projects currently in planning (estimated dates):
Project Name | Project Description | Estimated Cost | Planned Start Date | Planned Completion Date |
Outeniqua Place of Safety | Lawaaikamp_Outeniqua House_Urgent Maintenance of Security doors, gates, locks, reinstate access control, CCTV & General Building Repair _2025/27 | R2,900,000 | 16-Jan-26 | 30-Apr-26 |
York Park | Modernisation of portion of 2nd floor & HVAC overhaul | R47,891,067 | 15-Mar-26 | 15-Feb-27 |
George York Park Building: | New Paving to existing parking areas and upgrading of Stormwater system | R2,500,000 | 1-Mar-26 | 30-Nov-26 |
George Roads Camp: | General Building Repairs and Renovations to Various Houses | R2,500,000 | 1-Apr-26 | 30-Mar-27 |
Outeniqua Research Farm | Chemical Storage - General Repairs and Compliance | R3,500,000 | 1-Apr-26 | 30-Mar-27 |
George Hospital | Repairs and rehabilitation of Wards | R70,000,000 | 29-Feb-28 | 29-Nov-30 |
Harry Comay Hospital | Fire compliance at Harry Comay Hospital | R30,000,000 | 31-Jan-29 | 30-Sep-30 |
* Subject to budget availability and the User Department (WCDHW) approval to proceed to construction
