The Deputy Minister of Human Settlements, Zoe Kota-Fredericks has called on young people to work with government in building quality low cost houses. Deputy Minister Kota-Fredericks who was accompanied by the Executive Mayor of Matlosana local municipality, Mike Khauoe, said this yesterday in Kanana near Orkney at the launch of the youth build programme which also coincided with the handing over of houses which are part of the 115 completed houses built by a youth contractor.
She said the Department of Human Settlements will continue to provide decent quality houses that are accompanied by public amenities. “As government, we want to see young people and women forming cooperatives in order to get access to housing opportunities”, she said.
Thokozane Littler was awarded 187 houses in 2013 and has so far delivered 115 of those due to delays caused by identification of legitimate beneficiaries. Littler, who also won the Best Youth Contractor award during the 2015 Provincial and National Govan Mbeki Housing Awards, said he heeded the call by government to young people to become employers instead of relying on government for employment.
“I took this challenge to heart and heeded the call from government and established my company. Investing in the country’s youth and paying attention to skills development will help the country stay on course to achieving economic growth in the future. The world would prosper if there is a concerted effort to support emerging youth contractors” remarked Thokozane Littler.
The Youth Build is intended to:
- Facilitate the formation of youth owned entities
- Initiate legal contracting processes, agreements and arrangements between youth contractors, provinces, municipalities and main contractors
- Develop an emerging contractor incubator training and mentorship programme
- Facilitate the participation of youth contractors in the Govan Mbeki Human Settlements Awards and other excellence platforms
- Facilitate the allocation of 1976 housings to youth owned contractors per year.
Enquiries:
Ben Bole
Cell: 071 566 1399
E-mail: msbole@nwpg.gov.za
