​Thembisa Shologu
MEC for Human Settlements, Urban Planning, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Lebogang Maile yesterday launched the Rehoboth Hills and Bravo Enterprises in Germiston, Ekurhuleni.
These projects were launched under the ambit of the Gauteng Partnership Fund's Entrepreneur Empowerment Property Fund, an incubator programme established in 2010 to encourage emerging black property developers to participate in the affordable housing residential property market.
MEC Maile said the these two projects, Rehoboth Hills and Bravo Enterprises, showcases the innovative and entrepreneurial work done by the Gauteng Provincial Government, through its entity, the Gauteng Partnership Fund (GPF). 
"Since the inception of this incubator programme, 36 projects have been completed, yielding to 1736 liveable units. We want to scale this up for greater impact as part of socio-economic transformation," said  Maile.
He said the department wanted to assist in creating an enabling environment, support mechanisms, funding options and the regulatory framework for smaller black developers to enter the space and not just compete, but be able to become significant, even industry-leading players. 
"The granting of approvals and development rights by municipalities must be slanted towards the empowerment of emerging black developers.
"We must look at land release opportunities for emerging black developers or even state-owned land that could be released or leased to emerging black developers for development," he added.