A R 3,2 million housing development project for people with disability in Itsoseng outside Lichtenburg in the North West Province is nearing completion and targeted for delivery towards the end of this month, which has been declared National disability month. The community of people living with disabilities has been living in two roomed asbestos houses without necessary enabling facilities for over the past 25 years.
Deputy Minister of Women, Children and People with Disability, Hendrietta Bogopane visited the housing project after she and the Provincial MEC for Social Development, Women, Children and People with disability, Mosetsanagape Mokomele-Mothibi launched disability month in the area on Thursday as part of its National Accessibility Campaign which is expected to run from November 2011 until March 2014.
The campaign will focus on, among others, reasonable accommodation in the workplace, access to buildings where government services are being provided, and access to public transport.
The North West Department of Human Settlements, Public Safety & Liaison is building 48 houses in the area, with enabling facilities that would make life easier for the community of people living with disability. The special homes constructed to meet the housing needs of the beneficiaries living with disability will make it easy for them to find easy access into their homes.
The 50 square meters houses with features as compared to the standard low cost houses of about 45 square meters. On completion, the faced brick houses with roof tiles will have other extras such as ramps, compatible bathrooms and other amenities that will create easy access for them.
Fifty-eight year old Goitsemang Letebele, one of the beneficiaries who is partially blind and has disability on her left hand was happy with the Deputy Minister’s visit. The unemployed, single mother of three, said that she was happy that the house catered for her special needs for easy access in and around her house.
Letebele has been living with two of her children in a two roomed asbestos house, which she said was not spacious. “I thank government and the department for making sure people like us have better homes and live in comfort like other fellow citizens” she said.
The MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison, Ms Desbo Mohono had recently visited the project and made an undertaking that the long awaited project will be completed in just a few month. The MEC’s commitment will be fulfilled by the end of the disability month when the construction is expected to be completed.
Mohono had assured people living with disability that her department respects their rights and will build homes that are compatible with their disabilities.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 391 0140
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 381 0328
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
