MAHIKENG MAIL- DEELPAN: The delivery of houses for Deelpan floods victims was progressing as expected and beneficiaries were due to occupy their new houses at the end of this financial year top government officials.
This emerged during the oversight visit to Deelpan village in the Tswaing local municipality by the AD HOC Joint Committee on Flood Disaster Relief and Recovery led by its Chairperson, Cedric Frolick.
The Committee visited the Deelpan which was hit by floods over a year ago, to have a clear understanding of the extent to which the North West Provincial Government has been able to provide interventions to affected residents.
Chairperson of the Committee, Cedric Frolick was accompanied by Kgosi Jeff Molete of Bakolobeng, MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho, who was standing in for MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Mayor of Tswaing - Norah Mahlangu and Head of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department - Dr Ben Bole to the housing construction site.
103 houses are being built for families affected by floods in the five (5) hectares of land. Florick expressed his satisfaction on the progress recorded by the intervention team in securing the land, appointing the contractor and kick-starting the construction of houses.
“We are here to assess the situation on ground on how government is delivering on its commitment of floods relief. We are grateful that there is movement on the ground. More will be done soon to ensure that all affected residents do resume their normal livelihoods which were disrupted by the floods”, said Frolick.
MEC Rosho also expressed satisfaction with the developments in Deelpan indicating that affected residents will be able to occupy 103 new houses by the end of 2023/24 financial year.
“As the government of the North West, we are responding by giving our people of Deelpan dignified houses. In March 2024 the housing project will be completed and approved. Beneficiaries will be occupying their houses. We are quite excited with what we have achieved thus far”, remarked MEC Rosho who also indicated that more houses will be built in the Second Phase of the project.
The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs is coordinating interventions to Deelpan from all provincial governments, Tswaing local municipality and Ngaka Modiri Molema district municipality to ensure the restoration of livelihoods for affected residents.
The Department of Social Development is supporting social centres with about 300 beneficiaries around Deelpan. It also provided skills development for 50 young people and supported chicken broiler, salon, sewing and street vendor businesses. Parenting programme as well as pyscho-social support services are continuing.
The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development provided veterinary services, assisted farmers with diesel, provided goats to some families, bought bulls for the benefit of local communal farmers and erected cattle handling facility.
The Department of Public Works and Roads will construct a 12 kilometre road from Mooifontein to Lombardslaagte, access road to local school and six (6) internal roads in Deelpan. The project which will also repair damaged bridges and culverts is expected to create over 100 job opportunities and provide technical and generic training for beneficiaries.
Water shortage in the area is also receiving attention.
An engineering company has been appointed to conduct an intense assessment which will include Geo-Hydrological investigation, water demand analysis and infrastructure design. This will guide the plan which will provide a lasting solution to the water challenge in the area.
