The first enhanced serviced sites are being handed over to beneficiaries in the Mossel Bay UISP programme in the Transand Camp informal settlement. The Transand Camp informal Settlement is being transformed into a proper formal neighbourhood and can no longer be regarded as an “informal settlement”. The Enhanced Serviced Sites that are being developed as part of the Mossel Bay UISP consist of full A-grade serviced sites with a toilet structure with a flushable toilet, an outside wash trough and an inside washbasin and tap. A grade services translate to paved roads, underground water and sewerage connected to the municipal grid, and proper stormwater drainage. Each erf has a level compacted platform ready for a top structure to be built on and in areas with slopes, retaining walls are used to create a level platform. In addition to this, each stand is provided with an electrical connection and pre-paid electricity meter that is rolled out through the electrification programme funded by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy.
Beneficiaries break down their structures and are then relocated onto a serviced site where they then rebuild their structure using the building materials of their old structure together with additional building material that is provided by the municipality to assist beneficiaries. The building material assistance package provided by the municipality consists of the following:
- 4 3m long poles (100mm dia x 3m),
- 7 3m long purlins (76x50mm x 3m),
- 6 3m long rafters (114 x 38mm x 3m)
- 1 3m x 15m DPC underlay (250 micron)
- 500g 75mm galvanised nails
- 500g 100mm galvanised nails
- 7 3m long galvanised roof sheets (0.47mm thick x 610mm x 3m)
- 1kg 65mm safetop screws
- 1 cube Floor infill material (G7)
Construction of the new structures are progressing well in the areas where stands have already been allocated to beneficiaries. In some cases the toilet structure is used as an anchor and incorporated into the new structure to essentially have an “inside” toilet. In other cases the beneficiaries prefer to keep the structure separate and keep the toilet “outside”.
The photos below show the completed enhanced serviced sites and the new structures that are being erected:
MB UISP 
Uniqueness of incremental upgrading is the participation and contribution of the communities. It might be intensive and contesting but at the end you see improvement over time.
“Incremental Upgrading is a journey and not a destination” Transand Camp community has embark on different kind of journey from precarious state, which is good news for the remaining informal settlement communities in Mossel Bay
Thanks David. Totally agree with you on the incremental upgrading process. Nice work, compliments to the WC!