MAHIKENG MAIL - MAHIKENG: Challenges previously experienced in the Military Veterans housing programme will soon be history in the North West Province.
This is according to the Deputy Director responsible for Housing Development, Orapeleng Tabile, who addressed the quarterly military veteran’s project steering committee feedback session, which aimed at addressing backlogs in the construction of the houses for Military Veterans.
The programme is one of the initiatives that the department in collaboration with the National Department of Military Veterans, National Department of Human Settlements and Municipalities is rolling out through the identification of beneficiaries from the database and allocation of sites where the houses will be constructed.
Tabile acknowledged the backlog and pointed out that the department has already built six houses in Mabele-a-podi and Bapong Villages respectively, as well as other houses at Kagisano Molopo District Municipality and Lethabong in Rustenburg and will be completed and handed over to beneficiaries before the end of the year. The contractor is currently on site and promised to deliver on time. He said that officials of the department will continue to monitor and give feedback about progress made.
One of the beneficiaries identified is Mosiiwa Sekhutle, a 61 year old man who worked for former Bophuthatswana Defence (BDF) for a period of ten years and later joined the South African Defence Force (SANDF) for three years. “I am happy because I have been living in my family home and I can’t wait to have a place of my own. This is a legacy for my children,” he said.
Another beneficiary, Mr Daniel Mandlane, also worked for former BDF and SANDF. Mandlane is married with three children and was born and bred in Bapong Village. “I would like to thank the government for building a house for me and my family, I never thought I would see this day, I am really thankful,” said Mandlane.
Meanwhile, Jacky Mamabolo, from the National Department of Human Settlements, advised the North West province to ensure that they have more projects so that they can deal with the backlog. “The department must ensure that they extend the scope of work to existing contractors rather than appointing new contractors to avoid delay and under-performance. Appointment of new contractors takes a long time because it is a process and this causes unnecessary delay,” said Mamabolo.
Tabile affirmed that despite challenges faced by the department, they intend to construct 86 Military Veterans’ houses in the province for the current financial year. He added that the department will comply with policy governing the Military Veterans Housing programme in terms of projects roll out.
