Another housing celebration for Ventersdorp communities
Bokone Bophirima MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements Collen Maine has announced his department’s intention to deliver 800 more houses to residents in the villages around Ventersdorp. MEC Maine made the announcements during the community meeting held on Wednesday at Boikhutsong Community hall.
The meeting by MEC Maine follows the recent protest action were communities complained about lack of housing in their area. This is despite the unblocking of a 415 housing units project that was kick-started last week to complete the entire 1000 housing units project, worth R84 million rand in the area.
The villages which are to benefit from the new commitment include Tsetse, Welgevonden, Goedgevonden, Boikhutso and Boikhutsong.
MEC Maine said “We have realised that 1 000 housing units which we are about to deliver, remain insufficient to the community. We have resolved to top up the units with another 800 units which will be allocated across the six villages. As the Bokone Bophirima provincial government we are now focusing more on decreasing the housing backlog in villages and farming communities were our people are feeling the brand of poverty and unemployment; in fact we are starting with the prioritization of Rural Villages as opposed to urbanization, thanks to the Premier who introduced the concept of (VTSD) Villages, Township, and Small Dorpies which will be the approach in the next five years".
The announcement was embraced by residents who also liked the idea of job opportunities that comes with the projects. The department will also engage and partner with other department so they can deliver important social amenities such as a crèche, school, clinic and a hall which will create even more job opportunities to the impoverished communities.
Thembeni Mbenze (48) will be amongst those who will benefit from the housing project. Mbenze said “I have been staying in a shack since 1991. It’s terrible to live in a shack with four kids. During rainy season it’s just a mess inside as the water just drops through the leaks into the shack. I really can’t wait to occupy the new house”.
Subsidy Admin staff will be deployed to the villages starting this Tuesday to do subsidy administration. And on the 3rd of May 2015, the contractor will be introduced to the community to kick start the 800 housing units’ projects.
The subsidy Admin Staff will be in the following areas:
- 31/03/2015: Boikhutsong 10h00 to 16h30
- 01/04/2015: Welgevonden 08h00 to 16h30
- 02/04/2015: Goedgevenden 08h00 to 16h30
- 03/04/2015: Boikhutso 08h00 to 16h30
Enquiries:
Ben Bole
Cell: 071 566 1399
E-mail: msbole@nwpg.gov.za
