North West Premier Thandi Modise has commended MEC for Human Settlement and Public Safety, Nono Maloyi for his prompt intervention that will ensure that construction of a house for Granny Lina Mahlalela of Lekojaneng village outside Rustenburg commences by next week Tuesday.
Granny Mahlalela’s desperate situation was highlighted on the front page and page 10 of today’s Sowetan Newspaper whereupon Premier Modise called for MEC Maloyi’s intervention. A technical team was speedily dispatched by MEC Maloyi to Lekojane to assess Granny Mahlalela’s situation.
“The positive and quick response of a contractor who was on the instruction of MEC Maloyi approached to support the Each-One-Settle-One programme is encouraging and gives us confidence that with the support of partners within the housing industry, the plight of the elderly like that of Koko Mahlalela are speedily addressed,” said Premier Modise.
The Premier who was touched by Koko Mahlalela’s desperate called on municipalities to work with the Human Settlement Department to ensure that the elderly are prioritised for housing provision to redress the housing backlog that was inherited by the democratic government.
“While we are mindful of the huge housing backlog we have inherited, as a caring and compassionate government we would wish to see similar cases across our province resolved to restore the dignity of our aged,” added Modise.
The Each-One-Settle-One campaign was launched by the Ministry of Human Settlements with the intention of mobilising stakeholders, private sector/institutions, agencies and business to assist government towards reducing the backlog of Human Settlements. The programme will also assist in achieving the millennium development goals to eradicate informal settlements by 2014.
