By Obakeng Maje

Mr Edwin Mokeke of Extension 39 in Mahikeng told MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison that the RDP house he received from government has changed his life and that of his family positive. The 37-year-old Mokeke said this when he was asked questions during the socio-economic impact research pilot project launched in Mahikeng on Tuesday. 

“Mokeke expressed his gratitude to government for making him a property owner for the first time in his life” departmental spokesperson Simon Mmope said. Talking to the MEC during the visit to his house, Mokeke said they used to rent a room in Itsoseng, but since they received a house their lives has changed for the better.

“Mokeke whose on wheelchair was the first to be visited, of the 2500 Extension 39 households, where the integrated socio-economic impact research will be conducted for the next four weeks by the department” said Mmope.

Mokeke and his wife are both on wheelchairs and they live with their 3 year-old child.

Launching the research after visiting Mokeke at his house, MEC Maloyi pleaded with the residents of Extension 39 in to co-operate and provide valid information during the research.

“Your cooperation in this process will make the work of government more ease and further fast track the service delivery in creating better lives of our peopled,” said MEC Maloyi. 

In explaining the importance of the research to the communities, the MEC said the report will further provide guidance to the department on the kind of interventions needed for rectification, proper beneficiary occupation as well as the scope of work needed for the provision of houses to those illegally occupying other people’s houses.

“For those who have illegally occupied the houses, just be honest because we might find that you also qualify for a house and that will provide you with an opportunity to have a house in your own name,” pleaded Maloyi.

MEC further informed the residents that his department will continuously engage with the Mahikeng Local Municipality and other government departments to deal with other service delivery challenges such as roads and infrastructure that are facing the residents of Extension 39.

“This settlement must be a true reflection of Human Settlements with all requirements and basic services,” he said.

The 60 trained data collectors are expected to start on Monday, July 01, 2013, for a period of four weeks. They will go houses to house capturing information required on the questionnaire form developed by the Department.

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