Tuesday, 21 January 2025

By BAKANG MOKOTO

The North West Department of Human Settlement said it will continue to remain steadfast on its commitment of unblocking blocked projects and ensuring that communities have quality houses. During the recent Thuntsha Lerole Accelerated Service Delivery Programme, the department handed over three houses, which were left unfinished by contractors who abandoned sites.

The North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Oageng Molapisi said the houses are part of the blocked projects in Klerksdorp. Molapisi said applauded the department and the contractor who finished the houses for ensuring that families in need of quality houses are prioritised.

“This shows that the department is moving in the right direction towards ensuring that the issue of blocked project becomes a thing of the past. I am happy to witness lives changing for the better through this provision of houses by the department.

“The ongoing working relationship of the department with contractors is a blessing, as it helps the department to meet its mandate and deliver adequate housing for those in need,” said Molapisi,” he said.

Molapisi further acknowledged the housing backlog that the department is faced with. He added that the department is having engagements with municipalities to address them.

In addition, the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi handed over eight title deeds to beneficiaries at the community feedback session. Mokgosi said this is part of the ongoing programme of restoring people’s dignity and aims to bring a sense of ownership of a particular piece land, entitling the owner to the land and property.

“Title deeds are legal documents that assure residents that the property they have been living in over the years are theirs. From today onwards, you can be at peace that the property you have lived in and raised your families over the years are yours and are valuable assets to hand over to the coming generations.

“The remaining 318 title deeds were given to the Matlosana Local Municipality to facilitate their hand over,” he said.

Meanwhile, one of the beneficiaries, Johanna Jumar (81) from Alabama Township, in Klerksdorp, was full of excitement as she received keys to her new house. Jumar is staying with her three grandchildren and the family depends on government’s social grants and old age grand received by the grandchildren and self.

“I lived in a shack for over 25 years and I have never imagined that one day my dignity will be restored like this. For all those years of heavy storms and winds all I could do was to have faith that one day I will have a proper house,” said Jumar.

Another house beneficiary is Frenkel Beqeke (64), who is a father of two from Kanana Township, near Orkney. Beqeke spent most of his life working at the mines and local filling stations before settling in at Klerksdorp town. Even though he has had an opportunity to work, Beqeke said he could not make enough money to be able to build a proper house for his family.

“With the receipt of the new house, I will now be able to sleep peacefully without having to worry about being blown by strong winds and heavy rainfalls,” he said.

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