communities
21 April 2009
The investment of R2,4 billion towards integrated and vibrant human
settlements as per Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)signed by Anglo Platinum
Limited and government was given practical meaning last Friday with the
commencement of construction of 1000 houses for mine workers in Rustenburg.
North West MEC for Developmental Local Government and Housing, Howard Yawa
turned the sod for the commencement of the R190 million phase II of Seraleng
integrated Housing Settlement Development Project.
The partnership to accelerate housing delivery and provide 20 000 houses for
Anglo Platinum employees in North West and Limpopo is intended to benefit more
than 120 000 people within the next five to 10 years.
"Today's historic event is about a celebration of a partnership and a shared
vision with mining houses to redress the apartheid legacy of undignified
housing that is historically associated with the mining sector. It is about a
shared vision for creation of vibrant, sustainable human settlements and the
eradication of informal settlements in line with Breaking New Ground Housing
Delivery Strategy that we adopted in 2004. It is a response to the clarion call
business unusual all hands on deck to speed up change." said Yawa at the
event.
According to MEC Yawa, the first phase of the project for the construction
of 3200 Breaking New Ground housing units at a cost of R128 million was
implemented by his department in partnership with Rustenburg Local Municipality
and completed in May 2008.The project led by Toro Ya Africa as turn key
developer created job opportunities for 350 subcontractors and 1 800
labourers.
The Seraleng Integrated Human Settlement Development Project is part of 125
housing development projects that the provincial government has embarked upon
to provide 79 325 housing units in Bojanala Platinum District Municipality and
areas that were transferred to City of Tshwane Municipality at a budgeted cost
of R 1,3 billion. Forty one of the projects are located in Rustenburg Local
Municipality.
Head of Anglo Platinum South Africa, Kuseni Dlamini said that his
organisation will spend more that R137 million towards land and services to
benefit 20 000 households as part of its contribution to assist government
eradicate informal settlements by 2014. Government subsidies over 10 years will
be over R87 million.
The event was graced by among others, the Executive Mayor of Rustenburg,
Councillor Matthews Wolmarans, the Director-General of the National Department
of Housing, Mr Itumeleng Kotsoane, Councillors of Bojanala Platinum District
Municipality and Rustenburg Local Municipality. Representatives of Impala,
X-strata, National Union of Mine Workers and government departments.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Department spokesperson
Tel: 018 387 3814
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 384 5426
E-mail: lkgwele@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Developmental Local Government and Housing, North
West Provincial Government
21 April 2009
