The Limpopo, Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs has once again honoured its stakeholders that have committed to partner with government in building Integrated Sustainable Human Settlements. The awards were held during a glittering gala dinner at The Ranch Hotel on the 2 May 2012.
MEC for Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA), Mr Clifford Motsepe said that the purpose of these awards is to motivate all stakeholders in the housing industry to harness human and other resources in accelerating housing delivery to improve the lives of millions of people especially the poor of our country and our province.
“We are here tonight to honour the role players in the housing value chain, including developers, contractors, banking sector, community based organisations, mining sector, building material suppliers, professional associations that have committed themselves to partner with government. These awards will inspire many of your peers to continue with the tradition of delivering good quality housing products that we can all be proud of,” said MEC Motsepe.
Govan Mbeki awards are also aimed at showcasing and demonstrating excellent work done with special emphasis to the department’s programmes, and further promote best practices in the delivery of the core mandate.
CoGHSTA Limpopo is still the title holder of the 2008 national Govan Mbeki Human Settlements Award. MEC Motsepe and his Acting Head of Department (HOD), Ms Nana Manamela are confident that CoGHSTA which has been voted the best department provincially three times in a row will defend its position at the coming national awards.
The contested categories for the Provincial Govan Mbeki awards are youth contractor of the year, woman contractor of the year, contractor of the year, best contractors project in the subsidy and Non-Subsidy Market, Best Finance Link Individual Subsidy Project, Best Priority Project, Best Rental Stock Project, Best Enhanced People’s Housing Process (PHP) Project, students who were awarded bursaries and have completed their studies and due for placement in the department (see attached list of winners).
“This occasion give recognition to those who have done their best in responding to the voice of the Freedom Charter which says “There shall be houses, security and comfort”. Our programme is indeed in line with the National Vision 2030”, said MEC Clifford Motsepe. The department has built 46 743 quality houses since 2009 and this translate to putting a roof over 186 972 people.
The event was attended by the ANC veteran Bra Ike Maphotho, MEC Thabitha Mohlala (LDPW), MEC Pinky Kekana (LEDET), Chairperson of SALGA Mr David Magabe, Mayors, Acting HOD Ms Nana Manamela, Municipal Managers, representatives from NHBRC, DBSA, banking institutions, housing contractors, mining institutions and other stakeholders in the housing value chain.
The awards were introduced in celebrating the legacy of the late struggle hero Govan Mbeki. The Awards were named after Govan Mbeki in 2006 based on the role he played in human settlements of partnering with key stakeholders in order to further the cause of building the nation free of inequity.
A brief history of Govan Mbeki according to information from the website, http://www.sacp.org.za/; “He was a warrior - a revolutionary, an educator, a publicist, organiser and leader of our people over many decades. A man who has brought with him the rare qualities of selflessness and utter devotion to the cause of the oppressed and exploited millions of our country. Through his writings and his activity, he came to be respected and accepted as "a man of the people", always the practical revolutionary Govan.
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