EE Govan Mbeki awards to profile impact of human settlements projects in communities
Eastern Cape Human Settlements Development Projects built in both rural and urban areas have been able to change the living conditions for thousands of underprivileged people in the Province.
Census (2016) survey divulged that there is a gradual increase in the number of households living in formal dwellings over time from 65.1% in 1996 to 79.2% in 2016. The percentage of households living in traditional dwellings has also declined sharply from 18.3% in 1996 to 7% in 2016.
The Eastern Cape Province distribution of households whose main dwelling is a government subsidized dwelling increased to 386 802 in 2016. Those living in informal dwellings have decreased slightly from 16.2% in 1996 to 13% in 2016, according to a community survey done by Statistics South Africa in 2016.
The department has over 100 existing multi -year running projects which produce over ten thousand houses per year, including servicing sites; connection of basic services and building a number of community centres to bring social amenities within a radius of projects. In rural areas, water harvesting tanks and VIP latrines are given with the new houses.
The upcoming Provincial Govan Mbeki Awards will be a showcase of the successful projects which will go and represent the Province at the National Awards. In previous years, the projects from the province won numerous awards.
The purpose of the award is to showcase work done by the department with special emphasis to its programmes, promotes best practise in the delivery of the core mandate. The awards were named after the late Govan Mbeki in 2006 based on the role he played and vision he had on the preservation of human dignity and provision of human settlements for all.
Last year, the Province won in the categories of Best Enhanced Peoples Housing Process in Needs Camp and runners up in Best Rural Housing Project for Ebenezer rural project (Mbizana Municipality).
The awards ceremony, be addressed by MEC for Human Settlements, Helen Sauls- August will be held as follows:
Venue: Settlers’ Monument (Grahamstown)
Time: 18h00 pm
Date: 25 August 2017
Please confirm your attendance to Phiwokuhle Soga at PhiwokuhleS@ecdhs.gov.za or 076 804 4292 by 23 August 2017.
