PROJECT INFORMATION
| Client: | Client: Western Cape Department of Infrastructure; George Municipality |
| Main contractor: | Ruwacon (Metro Grounds), Simply Do Construction (East Syferfontein) |
| Subconsultants: | Yasmine Graham; Hanry Neethling; Japie van Eeden; Renew Projects (Anthony Schoeman); CMB (Electrical); Safe Working Practice (OHS Consultants for East Syferfontein) and OHS Inc (Metro Grounds); Cape EAPrac (Environmental Consultants); Bailey & Le Roux Land Surveyors; DelPlan (Townplanner) and JSA Architects. |
| Date: | 2012 – present |
| Location: | George, Western Cape, South Africa |
| Challenge: | Deliver housing units across two ongoing projects within a limited year-end window while managing administrative processes, construction deadlines and multiple stakeholders |
| Solution: | Project management and Clerk of Works services across planning, design, procurement, contract administration and construction monitoring |
| Impact: | 315 homes handed over, including 36 specialised units for beneficiaries with disabilities, supporting dignified housing delivery in George |
A year-end handover brought 315 families closer to secure, dignified housing in George.
Delivered through the Western Cape Department of Infrastructure and George Municipality, the handovers formed part of a broader effort to accelerate access to adequate housing in the area.
Atana supported both projects through project management and Clerk of Works services spanning planning, design, procurement, contract administration and construction monitoring.
Building momentum across two housing projects
The handovers drew from progress across phases of the Metro Grounds low-cost housing project and the Syferfontein Erf 325 East low-cost housing project. Atana has been involved in phases 1 to 3 of Metro Grounds, as well as Syferfontein Erf 325 East, which spans seven phases (A, B1–B5 and C), with B4 and B5 still to come.
Syferfontein Erf 325 East is a substantial multi-year project, with construction underway since 2018 and the first units handed over in 2019. The five phases currently under construction (A, B1, B2, B3 and C) total 1,469 planned homes, with quantities for B4 and B5 still being finalised.
For many beneficiaries, the handover represented access to a home of their own before the festive season. It also reflected the sustained coordination required to move multiple phases forward within tight timeframes.
Atana’s challenge? Reaching handover before the December break, which required coordination across project teams, stakeholders and site activities. Administrative processes, procurement requirements and construction deadlines all had to be managed within a limited window, while work continued toward year-end closure.
Final handovers required close attention to quality, snagging, contract administration and site monitoring, alongside ongoing engagement with the many parties involved.
Structured project leadership and on-site coordination
- Syferfontein Erf 325 East, Phase B3: 186 of 217 houses delivered, with the remaining units handed over in January 2026.
- Syferfontein Erf 325 East (specialised units): 36 units handed over for beneficiaries with disabilities, supporting accessible and independent living.
- Metro Grounds: Approximately 70 units completed and handed over, with further phases progressing into 2026.
- Project management across delivery: Full lifecycle oversight from planning and design through to procurement, contract administration and construction monitoring.
- Clerk of Works (site oversight): On-site presence focused on build quality, compliance and progress against specifications.
- Stakeholder coordination: Alignment between government bodies, contractors and project teams to keep decision-making clear and momentum consistent.
- Programme management: Active tracking of timelines, milestones and administrative processes to meet a constrained year-end delivery window.
- Handover preparation: Management of snagging, inspections and close-out activities to ensure units were ready for occupation.
- Ongoing construction: Active work continues on 124 units in Phase B1, with landscaping underway across Phase A.
Beyond construction, Atana successfully:
- Provided 315 households with access to formal housing, supporting stability and long-term security;
- Contributed to safer, more structured living environments within the George area;
- Ensured that vulnerable beneficiaries are accommodated within the broader housing programme through inclusive housing; and
- Supported year-end handover under tight administrative and construction deadlines.
Read the full article on this project, here.
As the only road that crosses the summit of the Drakensberg Mountain range, Sani Pass’s steep switchbacks, loose gravel, and sudden weather changes meant local communities faced dangerous journeys to access schools, healthcare, and trade routes.
But after nearly two decades of 24/7 operation, its systems were well past their prime. Power systems, water supply, waste management and heating – all critical to survival in Antarctica – were in dire straits.
Calcium and magnesium build-up caused “hard water,” which began to solidify – and clog pipes.
Many roads and vehicles were in poor condition, and safe, reliable transport remained out of reach for thousands.
Atana supported both projects through project management and Clerk of Works services spanning planning, design, procurement, contract administration and construction monitoring.
Designed and delivered by Atana as the primary engineering consultant, the project combines sustainability, speed, and technical ingenuity.
