Cato Crest development still on the cards

CMDA’s Chief Executive Officer, Clive Forster and Nomusa Mfuphi,
a newly appointed member of the CMDA’s Board of Directors
and also a Cato Crest resident, going through the proposed
plans for the development of Cato Crest Central Housing.

The development of the Cato Crest informal settlement will occur as soon as the Department of Housing approves the subsidy applications and when the eThekwini Municipality approves the proposed development of Cato Crest Central Housing allocated along Cato Manor Road.

The proposed development includes the development of 279 sites for the construction of bank-financed houses, Department of Housing subsidised starter units, commercial sites, urban parks and a school. Some residents who will relocate from the path of servitudes from various areas within Cato Crest, will be catered for in this project.

First preference to purchase bank-financed units will be made available to Cato Manor residents before the offer is open to the wider public.

These plans were revealed during a community consultation meeting between Manor Gardens and Cato Crest residents organised by the CMDA and eThekwini Municipality officials.

Manor Gardens residents are concerned that the development of low cost housing will affect the re-sale value of their properties. The public meeting was to inform the concerned residents of the proposed development plans so that they could make comments and give input.

Also in the pipeline is the development of Cato Manor Drive to a dual carriage road that will cater for the anticipated increase in traffic as a result of the upgrading of the Central Node.

Although there are no conclusive time frames set for the development of the Central Housing project, it is understood that approval is subject to the eThekwini Municipality.

To facilitate the development of Cato Crest housing, the construction of a collector road is under way.

Cato Manor’s first Bed & Breakfast

Zandile Masuku is ready to host tourists at her Bed & Breakfast
establishment in the informal settlement of Cato Crest.

by Gugu Mzimela
Tourists frequently shy away from spending nights in luxurious hotels where they will not get the full experience of the local lifestyle. Today, tourists are more inclined to spend the night at a township bed and breakfast (B&B) establishment.

Armed with the knowledge gained from attending a business management course and the skills acquired while employed in a B&B in Durban, Zandile Masuku a resident of Cato Crest’s area 1, has converted her three-roomed house into a B&B establishment to exploit this new trend.

Zandile’s passion for cooking is the driving force behind the B&B dream. The concept came about when Zandile realised that tourists wanted to experience life in Cato Crest. “Tourists are keen on experiencing our lifestyle and if they can, they want to spend the night in a township and that is exactly what I will offer them,” says Zandile.

Although tourists have not spent a night at the B&B, many have come for some African Cuisine at just R12.00 per serving. Zandile is positive that at R60.00 a couple per night, her business will soon grow.
For bookings or more information please call 083 493 8719 or
261 8657.

Siyaya fm on air again!

Siyaya FM’s Cynthia Memela presents a listener with a prize.
Siyaya FM will be back on Highway Radio for one hour programmes in mid November.
They will be broadcasting from 5:am to 6:am Monday to Friday on 101.5 fm.

Life for Siyaya fm and their listeners has become dull since their 30-day licence expired. Well, all is not lost as the agreement between Siyaya fm management and Highway Radio will bring Siyaya fm back on air in mid November.

Listeners can start tuning their radio sets to 101.5 fm, a channel that belongs to Highway Radio. Unlike before, Siyaya will now broadcast for just one hour Monday to Friday from 5:00 am to 6:00 am.

This has been seen as a step in the right direction as this slot is regarded as a prime slot. “Our previous arrangement was to air our pre-recorded programmes at night when we were competing with television and drama shows on other radio stations. This new arrangement means our shows will be broadcast live. It does well for our confidence as we are preparing for a long-term licence with the broadcasting authority,” said station manager Sicelo Xulu.

The Siyaya management is hoping to host a fundraising musical concert in December. Some of the draw cards to be featured are Mfiliseni Magubane, Hhash elimhlophe, Brothers of Peace, Phuz’ekhemesi, Ntokozo Mbambo and many more. Readers must stay tuned to Siyaya for more details.