The delay in occupying new houses allocated to beneficiaries is the major cause of illegal occupation and vandalism of houses in the province, North West MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison, Desbo Mohono said on Tuesday. MEC Mohono’s statement follows a housing consumer education session conducted by officials from her department in the Dithakwaneng village outside Vryburg on Monday.
Held in the Dithakwaneng Tribal Hall, the awareness session was mainly to inform and educate residents about their rights and responsibilities as housing beneficiaries.
Housing Consumer Education officials explained the rights of housing beneficiaries, understanding the value of houses, implications of signing happy letters before given keys and failure to occupy the house for which subsidy was granted.
They urged beneficiaries to occupy their houses as soon as they are complete and encouraged them to take good care of their houses, and turn them into homes for future of their children and generations to come.
The team warned beneficiaries from turning their houses into business as mostly turn them into tuck shops, renting them and return to their old shacks and mud houses.
The MEC recently emphasised the fact that Breaking New Ground houses provided by her department are meant for the needy and beneficiaries are not allowed to rent them out or use them as business premises and that her department will ensure that people of the North West have access to decent houses as stipulated in the Constitution of South Africa that everybody has the right to adequate housing.
“Every house should be a home for its rightful beneficiary and we are firmly going to take action against illegal practises of turning these houses into businesses,” warned Mohono.
Dithakwaneng residents raised a number of concerns ranging from quality of their houses, water and sanitation.
One of the beneficiaries, a 63-year-old Florence Monnawapula said she’s one of the approved beneficiaries waiting for the completion of the 600 housing units currently under construction in the R32 million housing development project.
The mother of three who’s living with four grandchildren said she’s patiently waiting to occupy her house as it would be a dream comes true for having a house in her name for the first time in her life.
The meeting was graced by Kgosi Kevin Mahura of the Batlhaping-Ba-Ga-Mahura who expressed his gratitude to the department in ensuring that his communities receive first hand information on housing rights and responsibilities.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 391 0420
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
