A house for mayor’s mother
PLETTENBERG BAY -
Catherina Terblanche (71) from New Horizons in Plettenberg Bay wiped tears of joy from her eyes on Friday 1 March after being handed the keys to her new disabled-friendly house in Ebenzer.
She was one of four recipients of houses at the handover, conducted by her son, Mayor Claude Terblanche.
Once the current phase of houses is completed in Ebenzer, more than 200 people will own new homes in the area.
A total of 13 houses were handed over to residents on Friday, four being allocated specifically for disabled individuals. The Ebenezer housing project is one of Bitou's legacy projects, to deliver 1 600 mixed housing opportunities.
"I am overwhelmed to have my own home," said wheelchair-bound Catherina, who is also partly blind. "Sjoe! It is better to be on one's own – and now I can receive my own guests in my own home."
Terblanche said it was not only about his mother, but all of those residents of New Horizons who have waited since 1999 for their homes.
"Today is special as my mother has been a deserving recipient and has been on the list for years. The project was a long time
coming. We fought hard and waited long to get to this point," said Terblanche. "It is a big moment for all of us."
Bitou Deputy Mayor Nokuzola Kolwapi said the fact that the elderly were beneficiaries of the project was proof that there was a backlog (of housing opportunities).
"There was no attention being given to those residents and now they can finally feel the freedom that was fought for a long time ago," said Kolwapi.