MINISTER HANDS OVER HOUSES
TEN DIAMOND Park residents received the occupation certificates to their newly-built houses in Greenpoint from the Minister of Human Settlements, Nomaindiya Mfeketo, yesterday.
The beneficiaries, along with everyone else who attended the handover ceremony, were reminded to register to cast their votes next year.
A total of 800 houses will be built in the area at a cost of R150 million, although the national Department of Human Settlements has indicated that it will have to source more funds to complete the project.
The project was unveiled in 2014, where it was promised that 1 150 houses would be constructed at a cost of R100 million and be completed in 2017, along with a church, a crèche and a recreation facility.
Some of the beneficiaries yesterday remarked that the two-bedroom houses were “very small”.
“You cannot fit a double bed through the door,” they pointed out.
The eldest beneficiary, eightyyear-old Andries Badenhorst, was overjoyed at being able to live with his son in a brick house.
“I have been living in the area for the past 22 years and it is the first time in my life that I have a proper house. I will buy prepaid electricity with my pension money,” Badenhorst.
He did, however, complain that his house was bare as it did not have a wardrobe to store his clothes, or a sofa or kitchen cupboards.
“All I have is a bed. I store my clothes in an enamel bucket. I also need a kettle, a stove, a fridge and a television ... that would be very nice.”
Lisbeth Modise, 64, and Johannes Modise, 67, who supports their three grandchildren by means of their social grants, received a visit from Mfeketo.
The family lost all their belongings when their shack burnt down in 2012.
Another beneficiary, Gomang Madupi, 72, who is also reliant on a social grant, lived with her two grandchildren in a shack for more than 10 years.
She said that their furniture and clothes became soaked whenever it rained.
“I am happy with this house, it is safe and has electricity and water,” Madupi said.
Mfeketo believes that the Northern Cape could be the first province in the country to eradicate its housing backlog of 39 604 houses.
“The Province has an opportunity to eliminate its title deeds logjam of 31 893.”
She stated that even though her department lost over R10 billion due to budget cuts, the Northern Cape was a model province in its ability to do more with less in terms of delivery.
“I have been visiting communities and projects around the country and I must say the Northern Cape builds the best houses. I am happy with the product I see here, the houses are of good quality,” she said.
Mfeketo added that the the national department would be willing to grant the Province funding for housing during the budget adjustments in September and provide support, given its good track record.
“The Northern Cape accounts for 38 percent of the 225 936 title deeds delivered nationwide thus far and is the second-best performing province in this regard.”
Sol Plaatje executive mayor Mangaliso Matika announced that the municipality had partnered with Ekapa Mining, where R7 million has been allocated to improve infrastructure at Diamond Park.
“To complement these beautiful houses, we will use this money to construct roads and install electricity.”
Matika added that while unemployment was rampant, housing beneficiaries would have to earn an income in order to pay for services.
Premier Sylvia Lucas advised the beneficiaries not to rent out their houses to foreigners.
Meanwhile, other city residents complained about the shortage of houses, corruption, blocked sewage and electricity cuts during a community meeting that was held after the handover ceremony was concluded.