MAHIKENG MAIL - MAHIKENG: The North West Department of Human Settlement remains steadfast in its commitment of unblocking blocked projects and ensuring that communities have quality housing.
During the recent Thuntsha Lerole Accelerated Service Delivery Programme, the department handed over three houses that were previously left unfinished by contractors who abandoned sites.
According to the MEC, this shows that the department is moving in the right direction towards ensuring that the issue of blocked projects become a thing of the past. “I am happy to witness lives changing for the better through this provision of houses by the department. The ongoing working relationship of the department with contractors is a blessing, as it helps the department to meet its mandate and deliver adequate housing for those in need,” said Molapisi.
MEC Molapisi also acknowledged the housing backlog that the department is faced with. He said that the department is having engagements with municipalities to address them. Eighty-one (81) year old Johanna Jumar of Alabama location was full of excitement as she received keys to her new house. Johanna is currently staying with her three grandchildren and the family depends on government’s social grants and old age grand received by the grandchildren and Johanna.
“I lived in a shack for over 25 years and I never imagined that one day my dignity would be restored like this. For all those years of heavy storms and winds all I could do was to have faith that one day I would have a proper house,” said Johanna. Another house beneficiary was Frenkel Beqeke, a 64-year-old father of two from Kanana Location. Frenkel spent most of his life working at the mines and local filling stations before settling in Klerksdorp.
Even though he has had an opportunity to work, Frenkel said he could not make enough money to be able to build a proper house for his family. Frenkel said with the receipt of the new house, he will now be able to sleep peacefully without having to worry about strong winds and heavy rainfalls.
In addition, North West Premier, Kagiso Lazarus Mokgosi handed over eight title deeds to beneficiaries at the community feedback session. This is part of the ongoing programme of restoring people’s dignity and aims to bring a sense of ownership of a particular piece land, entitling the owner to the land and property.
Premier Mokgosi said that title deeds are legal documents that assure residents that the property they have been living on over the years are now theirs. “From today onwards you can be at peace that the property you have lived in and raised your families in over the years are yours and are valuable assets to hand over to the coming generations,” said Mokgosi. The remaining 318 title deeds were given to the Matlosana Local Municipality to facilitate their handover.
