Cato Crest Development
Steady progress despite hiccups

Although there have been many difficulties encountered in the development of Cato Crest over the past few years, nevertheless significant progress has been made. Some of the delays have been man made, while others have been beyond human control. At times political intervention has been necessary to put the development of the area back on track. The mayoral working group continues to give support to the project.

The invasion of sites and houses at the Greenfields Housing Project is being resolved. Crime has also diminished, and contractors are confident of continuing with their work without being hassled.
IZWI recently went on a fact-finding mission to determine the extent of progress that has been achieved thus far. Readers should bear in mind that Rome was not built in a day.
A total of 278 households have relocated to the Cato Crest Greenfields Phase 1 project. There are 330 serviced sites in the Greenfields project, which is aimed primarily at accommodating households which are making way for infrastructural services within the Cato Crest settled area.
Engineers are continuing to plan routes for infrastructural services, such as the smaller roads network, sewerage pipes etc. Work on phase 3 of the collector road has been completed, and work on phase four - which is a loop that doubles back to Molver Road - is nearing completion. This will bring relief to taxi operators as they will now be able to provide an efficient service to the community.
All these developments are a clear indication that the Cato Crest settlement is being opened up to allow for the construction of proper houses, complete with basic infrastructure, to cater for the needs of residents.
Readers may have noticed that families living along Bellair Road are being relocated to Riverdene in Newlands West where they will start a new life in a fully-serviced neighbourhood.
This relocation was necessary because of construction work on Bellair Road Phase 2a, which will commence as soon as funding from the Metro Council is secured. Bellair Road is being upgraded.

A family awaits relocation to a new housing project in Riverdene. Families living along the Bellair Road axis are making way for the upgrading of the road.

Workers installing a pipe during the construction of Molver Road in Cato Crest.

Over the last 36 months unemployed Cato Manor women and youth in Chesterville have been organising themselves into co-operatives. There are now at least 12 active co-operatives in Cato Manor pursuing different income-generating ventures.
At the recent Cato Manor Small Business Fair, a number of these co-operatives exhibited their products. These included locally produced household detergents, fresh garden produce and clothing.
At Nsimbini a women-led co-operative is building a six-room house for R1 500 – they are also manufacturing the concrete blocks for the house.
Another co-op in the Fast Track East has set up a car washing business.
Others have opted to provide services such as cleaning, recycling, blockmaking and providing housing advice and training.
Co-operatives are legal entities that can operate as a business, as long as they are registered with the registrar of co-operatives in Pretoria.
Judy Mulqueeny, who is working with Seliyabuya Co-op to help Cato Manor residents form co-operatives, gave the following advice: “Forming and sustaining a co-op is easier said than done. First you must identify people with a common goal, have clear objectives, get all your resources together (such as equipment and money) and decide on a location. Choose a steering committee that will be responsible for the project, and make sure that meetings are held regularly.
“A lot of training will also be needed if co-ops are to be sustained. Co-ops also need to have access to finance.
“The next step would be to contact the Registrar’s office in Pretoria. A trained official will be sent to help you to draw up a set of rules which set out the rights and responsibilities of the members. This service is free of charge.
“According to good business practice, the steering committee must compile a business plan that will clearly show how the co-op will sustain itself as a business. The plan must convince others that the co-op is economically sound.
“After a formation meeting convened by the steering committee has appointed a board of directors or a management committee, an application can be submitted to the Registrar of Co-operatives, Private Bag X237, Pretoria 0001. This must be accompanied by a sworn statement by the chairperson that all steps were followed correctly.
” It takes approximately 60 days for the registration process to be completed. As soon as the co-operative is registered, the secretary will receive a certificate and the co-operative can start to operate.
The registration forms for establishing a co-operative must be accompanied by unused revenue stamps to the value of R137,50, and commercial co-operatives must include R550 to cover registration fees.
The SMME Help Desk of the KZN Department of Economic Affairs and Tourism can also help co-ops to become strong businesses. Their number is 031- 3076111.