MAHIKENG MAIL-KLERKSDORP: The North West Acting Premier and also MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Patrick Dumile Nono Maloyi has called on beneficiaries of government subsidised houses knows as Breaking New Ground (BNG) to refrain from selling or renting out their houses.
Maloyi was speaking during the official hand over of houses to two (2) families at Jouberton, in Matlosana Local Municipality as part of the on-going provincial government’s accelerated service delivery programme, Thuntsha Lerole. Handing over the keys, Maloyi urged the beneficiaries to take good care of their houses and to use them for their intended purposes.
“We have noted as the department that many people across the province and the country at large would be applying for houses, and after receiving them they sell or rent them out mostly to illegal foreigners, who use them for business purposes without following legal business documentation,”
According to Maloyi, the selling and renting out if these houses causes a major challenge for the government as it increases its housing delivery backlog and such beneficiaries may become indigent again as they often have to go back to live at informal settlements. Maloyi also added that it is against the law for a recipient of a government subsidised house to sell it before they have lived in it for a minimum period of eight (8) years.
One of the beneficiaries, Ezekiel Thomas who is currently staying with his wife thanked the department for building his family a house. Ezekiel is unemployed and survives on doing odd jobs to support his family.
“We have been staying in a small shark for many years and was even scared that I will die without having a proper structure on top of our heads”.
Another beneficiary, Motlalepule Serake also gave gratitude to the department for the gesture.
“I’m happy to have received a decent house. I appreciate everyone involved who made this day a reality,” said Motlapule. The department of Human Settlements remain committed to build a sustainable human settlements in the province, with basic amenities as spelled out in the constitution and the freedom charter.
