allocates R2,6 million housing development for abandoned farmworkers
12 January 2009
The North West Department of Local Government and Housing has allocated over
R2,6 million for the construction of emergency housing for abandoned
farmworkers in Willow Park near Zeerust, MEC Howard Yawa told SABC TV 2's
Morning Live on Monday morning.
The project that commenced in December 2008 for the construction of 60 low
cost houses to replace 35 dilapidated one roomed mud houses is part of the
multisectoral intervention by provincial and sectoral government departments to
alleviate the plight of the impoverished rural community.
"We now feel that we are part of the new South Africa. The one roomed mud
houses that my family of eleven occupied since being dumped by our former
employer on the farm in 1986 had robbed us of privacy and a decent shelter,"
said unemployed Samuel Matlakala (46). Matlakala and his daughter, Lerato (26)
who is also a mother of two, are proud beneficiaries of a completed four
roomed, 45 square meters low cost houses.
"Now that a foundation for my house is dug, I am confident that the
commitment for housing that MEC Yawa made when he addressed our community on
his visit to our area on the 14 August 2008 was not a bluff. I never thought
that I would have a house of my own in my lifetime to make up for the years of
suffering that we had to endure." says Lebalang Botlholo (57) mother of
four.
"Geo-technical investigations had to be conducted prior the commencement of
the project .This is a requisite before any project can start to check the type
and condition of the soil to inform the type of foundations to be constructed.
The department as part of a caring government had to appoint a turnkey
developer to expedite the completion of the project by the end of March 2009.
We are confident that the target for the completion of all 60 houses by that
deadline is realisable," assured MEC Yawa.
The live broadcast was a follow-up to ascertain progress since the initial
exposé of 18 June 2008 by Morning Live and the Commission for Gender Equality
on the poor living conditions of the abandoned farmworkers in Willow Park.
For enquiries contact:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 387 3814
Fax: 018 384 5426
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Developmental Local Government and Housing, North
West Provincial Government
12 January 2009
