By Obakeng Maje
Mmatau-Ms Ellen Matshaba of Mmatau village in the Moses Kotane local municipality has every reason to celebrate after receiving a house from government.

Matshaba has been living in a mud house for the past 52 years, which has been exposing her to hazardous environment and compromised her health and that of her family members.

Ms Matshaba is one of the 300 beneficiaries in Mmatau and Siga villages of Moses Kotane who benefited from government’s low cost housing programme. The 70 year old Matshaba, who also lives with disability and other beneficiaries, could not stop singing praises when the acting MEC of the Department of Human Settlements Public Safety and Liaison, Desbo Mohono handed keys to their new houses.

Receiving keys to her house Matshaba could not contain her excitement and further shared a tier of joy, as she thanked government for rescuing her from the mud house that compromised her health. She lives with her daughter and two grand children. Her family survives on her pension money and that of the two grand children.

“I am so delighted I can’t even tell. My life and that of my family will change for the better and my family will have a home forever. May God bless this government and let it grow from strength to strength,” said Matshaba.

According to Acting MEC Mohono, the Department has made sure that the houses which were handed over were of quality and safe to live in. She said that government will continue to make sure that it delivers houses where they are mostly need.

“This important government programme will make sure that the dignity of our people is restored and that they enjoy the fruits of democracy. I am sure that we will all celebrate the 20 years of democracy with pride as we look back where we come from and what government has achieved. We made a promise as government, to make sure that we house our people and we will continue to do that,” said Mohono.

MEC Mohono congratulated Gogo Matshaba and other beneficiaries and urged them to take care of their houses and make them homes.  The handing over of 8000 houses which started in February will continue until the end of March. The MEC will among others hand over low cost houses, rental stock, financially linked individual subsidy programme and Community residential units.-TDN
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