Mbeki awards presented for human settlement

THE KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements recognised various municipalities, contractors and students in the province in the provincial leg of the Govan Mbeki awards ceremony held at Durban’s International Convention Centre last night.

Entrants competed in 12 categories, including best accredited municipalities, best informal settlements upgrade, best rural settlement upgrade, best student awards and the MEC’s merit awards.

KZN Human Settlements spokesman Mbulelo Baloyi said the awards aimed to promote best practices in core mandate delivery.

“The awards promote best practices while motivating and honouring all stakeholders and role-players in the human settlement value chain,” said Baloyi.

The eThekwini Municipality’s Glebelands community residential units scooped the best community units award, and the Kingsburgh West and Welbedacht projects were first and second in the best informal settlement upgrade category.

The Lakehaven 2 project bagged the best social housing project award.

The Ray Nkonyeni (formerly Hibiscus Coast Local) Municipality won the best accredited municipality award. Level 2 in the same category went to the City of uMhlathuze.

Best rural project was won by the KwaBhejane Rural Housing Project, also in uMhlathuze.

The best farm residential housing assistance award went to Fordoun Staff Housing in Nottingham Road, uMngeni Municipality. Best intergrated residential development was also won by the uMngeni Municipality with its Hilton Phase 3 project.

In the contractor categories, Motheo Construction won the best woman contractor in the subsidy market category. Leucor Enterprises won the non-subsidy market.

The MEC Award for best students went to Lulama Ntozakhe, Thabile Nozibusiso Zulu and Sibongiseni Nhlakanipho Hadebe, who all got merit awards.

The awards are based on the role Govan Mbeki played in human settlement.