The community of Mathibestad RDP section has welcomed empowerment on their rights as housing beneficiaries, understanding the value of their Breaking New Ground (BNG) houses, implications of signing happy letters before receiving keys and failure to occupy houses for which subsidy was granted. This follows a housing consumer education conducted in Moretele Local Municipality in the North West province over the past weekend.
The information sharing session conducted by the North West Department of Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison in partnership with the national Department of Human Settlements was given thumps up for shading light on critical housing issues that many of the residents experience on a daily basis.
Some of them raised concerns relating to illegal occupation, lack of basic amenities, shoddy workmanship by the contractors and alleged fraud and corruption activities taking place in the area and how some of the residents were given houses illegally by some municipal officials and councilors.
Officials from the two departments urged beneficiaries to occupy their houses as soon as they are complete in order to avoid vandalism, illegal occupation and further encouraged them to take a good care of them, so that they should become homes for their children and generations to come. During the interactive information session, residents also received clarity on processes and procedures that beneficiaries need to follow to apply and finally acquire a BNG house.
Despite concerns raised that need intervention, resolution and investigation, most residents like 38 year old Agnes Moshoane could not stop talking about how happy they are with the housing delivery programme. The mother of four said that her new house has significantly improved her living condition from her previous status as a shack dweller.
“I was not aware of the escalating value of houses we have received for free from government therefore this was an eye opener for me to protect it as an investment,” said the grateful Moshoane.
She and other community members urged the departments and the local municipality to speed up service delivery to further make the area habitable and resolving challenges raised during the meeting.
Meanwhile, North West MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison, Desbo Mohono has recently warned contractors who abandon housing delivery projects and those that do shoddy work that her department will not hesitate to blacklist them.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 391 0420
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
