Page 44 - KBHA Bulletin 10

41

Final costs of the Scheme

The costs of the Scheme had been high. The National Housing and Planning Committee
had based their estimates on similar housing projects that had been undertaken in the Cape

Flats, and were therefore appalled at the high cost of the scheme. The difficulty of building

on a mountain slope, the boulders beneath, and the cost of sewerage and storm water
drainage had naturally exceeded those associated with building on the soft level terrain of

the Cape Flats.

The entire scheme had cost £71,014:

Preliminary Expenses £2,213 3,1%
Purchase of land £11,800 16,6%
Street works £5,250 7,4%
Layout of grounds £1,050 1,5%
Erection of Buildings
Contract 1 plus excavations £12,590 17,7%
Contract 2 plus excavation £23,542 33,1%
Additional Flats plus excavations £6,264 8,8%
Gear/Net Stores (35) £700 1,0%
Additional work after contract £7605 10,7%
TOTAL £71,104

The National Housing and Planning Committee demanded increased rents from the Kalk

Bay fishermen to recoup the additional expenses. A dispute soon developed between the
Council’s Finance Committee and the National Housing Committee on what weekly rent to

charge the families. The City Treasurer, Rex S. Walker, a friend to many of the fishermen,

pleaded for a “compassionate rent” on the ability-to-pay basis, as the average weekly wage
of a fisherman was £2-15-0d less 6/6d in the £ he had to pay the boat owner. Rents of 10/3d

per week for 2-roomed flats, 11/3d per week for 3-roomed flats, and 14/11d per week for 4-
roomed flats, were regarded as “fair and reasonable”, especially as the costs of this

township were far higher than those on the Cape Flats due to the severe slope of the terrain.