The National Association of Social Housing Organisations (NASHO) has welcomed the George Local Municipality’s landmark Council resolution to release prime land for the Crocodile Farm Social Housing Project. NASHO views this move as a critical victory for spatial justice and a technical blueprint for municipalities nationwide, as it unlocks a projected investment of R260 million to R325 million for social housing.

The project's overall value is estimated at R1 billion, with the balance comprising commercial retail and market-related housing opportunities. This development, situated in the Bos en Dal area, at the old “Crocodile Farm” site, is set to deliver 400 to 500 high-quality social housing units. By securing a long-term leasehold of at least 60 years, the project ensures that households earning between R1,850 and R22,000 per month are no longer pushed to the urban periphery, but are instead integrated into the heart of the local economy.

“NASHO supports this resolution because it moves beyond rhetoric and into high-impact delivery,” says Karabelo Pooe, General Manager of NASHO. “By leveraging municipal owned land, George is providing a clear roadmap for how local government can use municipal assets to dismantle the legacy of spatial apartheid.”

Simnikiwe Mbekushe, Deputy Director Human Settlements at the municipality said: “We are excited to see this project moving forward because it will make a real difference in people’s lives. George Municipality is committed to creating a town where more residents can live closer to opportunities, services, and places of work. We believe developments like this are important for building a more inclusive and sustainable future for our community.”

As the authoritative voice of the sector, NASHO highlights that the George resolution aligns with a growing pipeline of land release projects that advance the objective to leverage state-owned land to dismantle spatial inequalities by developing social housing in well-located parts of our cities. This includes:

• Stellenbosch: The municipality released high-impact land adjacent to Cloetesville to a private social housing developer.
• Cape Town (Maitland & Pinelands): Proven models where discounted government land was used to enable delivery of over 1000 combined units. The Maitland Mews project (in the Maitland suburb) has 204 completed units enabled by local municipal land (CoCT). The Conradie Park project (in the Pinelands suburb) has 886 units completed and 205 units in final construction; its land was sold by the Western Cape Provincial Government at a nominal price.
• Mossel Bay (Mountain View Social Housing Project): A phased project with between 288 and 552 social housing units, is currently in the advanced planning stage.

NASHO specifically welcomes the George project’s mixed-use innovation. By incorporating commercial components alongside residential high-rises, the Crocodile Farm development will stimulate local job creation and infrastructure synergy. This would not have been possible without the financial and technical support of the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA).

“We are calling on municipalities and governments across the country to look at the George model as a practical example of how local government can unlock well-located land for social housing.” concludes Pooe. “This is how you bridge the gap between a housing backlog and a thriving, integrated city.”