More than three decades of living without land ownership is finally over for 62-year-old Nonkosi Koom and 23 other residents of Red Location. On Monday, 14 April 2025, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality officially handed over the first 24 homes of the long-awaited Red Location housing project.
The handover, led by NMBM Executive Mayor Cllr Babalwa Lobishe (pictured), marks a major milestone for the community, who have endured years of hardship in shack dwellings while waiting for the promises of formal housing to be fulfilled.
“This is a historic day,” said Mayor Lobishe. “We were here four years ago to start this journey with you. Today, we begin delivering on that promise. These 24 homes are just the beginning — more houses will follow as part of the R14 million budget that has been approved.”
The Red Location Project, which forms part of the greater Red Location Museum precinct, will ultimately see 171 homes built. However, progress has been slower than expected. Initial delays stemmed from consultations around house designs, subsidy approvals, and planning adjustments, pushing the original September 2024 completion date further out.
Despite the setbacks, Monday’s handover brought visible relief and joy to the first beneficiaries. For Koom, receiving her own home — complete with a title deed — represents a dream come true after decades of uncertainty.
“I have been moved from place to place, living in unsuitable conditions,” she shared. “But I never lost faith. Today, I finally have a place I can call my own.”
Mayor Lobishe urged the new homeowners to take pride in their properties. “We have kept our part of the deal. Now it’s your responsibility to take care of these houses,” she said.
With the first keys handed over, the Red Location project now moves into its next phase — a symbol of hope, ownership, and progress for a community that has waited far too long.
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