North West MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison Desbo Mohono, has called on the local municipalities to prioritise people with disability, child headed households and the elderly when determining eligible housing beneficiaries. MEC Mohono committed R3,2 million towards construction of 50 more houses for the said vulnerable groups during the third leg of the “Thuntsha Lerole-Kick the dust” provincial housing delivery turnaround plan district road show held in Klerksdorp on Wednesday.
MEC Mohono announced a R6, 4 million housing development project for construction of 100 housing units in Nkagisang communal farm outside Klerksdorp. The Nkagisang Community comprises of families that have been evicted from around the Klerksdorp and Venterdorp farming communities.
To meet the housing demand in Jakaranda and Brakspruit, Mohono pronounced a top up of additional 76 houses to bring the number of houses to be built in the said areas to 110.
The MEC reported that the Geo-Tech study conducted in the Ventersdorp area has been completed. According to the findings of the study several areas in the district such as Tsetse village in the Ventersdorp and other areas were declared unsafe for housing development, due to dolomite in their area. MEC Mohono indicated that instead of building houses in unsafe areas, her department would rather relocate the concerned communities whilst they retain their title deeds. This follows resistance to relocation posed by the Tsetse community based on suspicions that the land they are currently occupying might have minerals.
In the meantime MEC could not end the session without reading the riot act she has pronounced in other districts warning contractors who are delivering substandard low cost houses and shoddy work. She cautioned that her department will not hesitate to blacklist them in the province and nationally so that they are not contracted to do work for government.
Mohono has promised support and consistent work to performing contractors and further redirecting budget to those districts that perform above average.
The road shows with municipalities and contractors the last of which is to be held in Bojanala Platinum on a date still to be announced are aimed at strengthening partnership to ensure that the projects yield targeted job opportunities, set housing targets are met without compromise on quality, roles are clarified and that early warning and monitoring systems are in place for accelerated housing delivery and prompt intervention.
The Executive Mayor of City of Matlosana, Councillor Mike Khauoe who was the only mayor attending the district engagements welcomed the initiative to accelerate housing delivery and gave it thumps up.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 391 0140
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018381 0328
Email: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
