By Obakeng Maje

Mahikeng-The North West province is the best performing province in the country on Human Settlements projects. 

The honor was given to the province during the national Govern Mbeki awards held at Gallagher Estate in Midrand last night. 

The province also scooped the best women contractor of the year for the second year in succession and the best Enhanced People’s Housing Project (EPHP) awards.

“The awards which are meant to reward excellence, innovation and best practice saw the North West emerging victorious as the overall winner, taking home over two million and certificate of honor” Department spokesperson Simon Mmope said. 

According to Departmental MEC Nono Maloyi, the awards received by the province are a true reflection of the hard and team work by officials and compliance to regulations. 

He said that the province made sure that it spends the entire conditional grant as allocated by the National Department of Human Settlements and further ensures that quality on houses build in the province is not compromised.

“These are the rewards of the commitment and the dedication we have put in our work as a department. The systems, monitoring tools and channels we have created clearly have beard fruits” MEC Nono Maloyi said. “Our continues contact with contractors and municipalities also played a significant role that lead to us winning these awards”, said the exuberant Maloyi. 

He said that the trend should be consistent, and that will lead to the province performing excellently every year. 

The Tlhabangani Trade Enterprise from Ditsobotla won the Best Enhanced People’s Housing Process (EPHP) National category, while the Best National Woman Contractor Award  was scooped by Ms. Lebo Aaron of L&R tools and Welding suppliers, from Taung.

Praising the province for its best performance Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale said that the hard work and dedication by the province should serve as an example to other provinces and showcase the good and quality work in the construction of RDP houses. 

Minister Sexwale advice other provinces to copy the model practiced by the North West and apply it in their respective province, and that will assist them in spending their allocated conditional grant appropriately.

Minister further warned against corruption and shoddy workmanship on housing projects. He called on contractors to use quality material so that the houses build can last stand the test of time. 

Govan Mbeki Awards is an annual event aimed at showcasing and demonstrating excellent work done by the department with special emphasis to promote best practices in the delivery of core mandate including outcome 8 deliverables. 

“The awards are also meant to motivate all stakeholders in the Human Settlements space to harness the human and other resources in accelerating delivery, such as eradication of informal settlements in the province and the country at large” said Maloyi.

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