Limpopo Pensioners Receive houses following MINMEC’s Meeting in the Province.
A Limpopo pensioner Hendrik Johannes Venter was thrilled on Thursday when the Minister of Human Settlements Nomaindiya Mfeketo presented him a new house in Seshego Township, Polokwane.
Venter (71) was one of at least 100 people who have taken occupation of their houses in extension 106 as part of housing project spearheaded by the Department of Human Settlements in the area. About 1 790 other residents were also presented with title deeds for their new homes
Speaking on the doorsteps of his new house, an elated Venter said receiving the keys to the new house marked an end of a 14-year long wait since he first applied for a Government subsidised house in 2004. This was just three years after the death of his wife. He previously lived in a shack on the outskirts of Polokwane.
“This is a really great day for me. I am very excited you will not believe. It is good to see so many people coming here to celebrate with me. I am grateful to God and I am feeling so special because now I have a place of my own where I can stay and sleep properly. Sometimes I slept on the street but last night I didn’t sleep because I was so excited that today I will be sleeping here,” said Venter.
The housing and title deeds hand-over in the province was also attended by the Director-General of Human Settlements Mbulelo Tshangana and at least five MECs of Human Settlements from different provinces following a sitting of the MINMEC, a high level meeting of the Minister and MECs of Human Settlements that was convened in Polokwane. Minister Mfeketo used the MINMEC as an opportunity to take stock on housing delivery in the country.
Speaking to residents in Seshego, Minister Mfeketo said her Department was committed to restoring the dignity of ordinary South Africans through the delivery of sustainable human settlements. Government has provided at least 4.6 million houses since 1994, but Minister Mfeketo told the residents that Government was aware that this was still not enough and that housing delivery was also lagging behind in Limpopo.
“I want to give you the hope that very soon your houses are coming. We are committed to get rid of squatters in Limpopo. We want to make sure that all the people of South Africa are housed properly in well located places. That is our policy. So today we will be handing over the title deeds to the people. I will hand out a few but since they are too many the MEC will hand over the rest of the title deeds. Hope that very soon those people sitting here who are without a house will also receive their houses,” she said.
Government’s expenditure that is crucial to ensuring that South Africa eliminates its staggering housing backlog also featured high in the MINMEC’s agenda. Limpopo MEC for Human Settlements and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Jerry Ndou and other officials briefly interacted with the community following the MINMEC.
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