Minister Lindiwe Sisulu hands over R700-million Housing Project in Marikana

Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has officially handed over the R700-million Housing Project in Marikana, east of Rustenburg in North West.  

Minister Sisulu was accompanied by the Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe , Premier of North West, Supra Mahumapelo and MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements Wendy Nelson.

Minister Sisulu emphasised that her Department was committed to the provision of decent housing for needy South Africans and that Government was highly concerned about the needs of vulnerable groups.
“We are happy to be here to hand over houses to the miners but also to the community of Marikana as a whole. We promised to help all 22 mining towns in distress and today we are here to start that journey,” said Minister Sisulu adding that the portfolio of Human Settlements was the key driver of the necessary societal change and transformation that is required in the country.

One of the beneficiaries of the houses handed over by the Minister was Dora Diremela, a 75-year-old who has been living with her six children in one of the farms around Marikana. Diremela lamented the hard living conditions that she and her children were subjected to on the farms. “There was no clean water and electricity at the farm and we used to struggle a lot. But now I feel blessed, I will have access to clean water since I will be living in this beautiful house. My life is complete, my dignity is restored,” said Diremela.

The Marikana Housing Project will yield 2 600 units upon completion. Presently 544 housing units have been completed. These include 252 units that are part of a community residential programme and another 292 BNG houses. The project will also cater for Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP) and bonded houses.

The Marikana housing project is part of the government’s plan to revitalise distressed mining communities following the Social Accord which was signed by President Jacob Zuma in October 2012 as a commitment to accelerate efforts to upgrade human settlements and related facilities in mining towns across the country.

More on

Share this page

Similar categories to explore