Zweli Mokgata answers: While the banks say that they have a lot of low-cost housing on the drawing board, there seems to be very little actually available right now. Sowetan Business will continually report on this important issue.

Zweli Mokgata answers: While the banks say that they have a lot of low-cost housing on the drawing board, there seems to be very little actually available right now. Sowetan Business will continually report on this important issue.

Here are some contact numbers for home loan queries:

lAbsa Home Loans Contact Centre - 0860-111-007 or home@absa.co.za

lStandard Bank Homes - 0860-123-001

lFNB - 0860-334-455

lNedbank property loans - 0860-115-060

FNB Housing Finance senior marketing manager Sibusiso Ndlovu said that developments similar to Cosmo City in the north of Johannesburg are under way in most parts of South Africa.

"Cosmo City is the most successful development to date, or at least the one in the most advanced stages," Ndlovu said. "There are about 450 units that have been completed, but only 70 tenants have moved in so far."

Ndlovu said that negotiations for developments in Pretoria (Tshwane) are still in progress, but construction would probably begin in September.

"There are developments lined up for Mamelodi and Pretoria West - three in Cape Town where 6000 units will be produced. There will be another 6000 units developed in Boksburg, 4000 in Evaton, 5000 in Kimberley and further developments planned for this year in KwaZulu-Natal and Kimberley."

Standard Bank has committed to provide about R9,2billion for low-cost and affordable housing, according spokesman Erik Larsen.

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