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KEY-NOTE ADDRESS BY HOUSING MINISTER, MRS BRIGITTE MABANDLA, AT THE LAUNCH OF MODIMOLLE HOUSING PROJECT, 22 MARCH 2003.
Programme Director Thobela! We are honoured to have in our midst, Mrs Mokhethwa Sannah Matjiela. She is 76 years this year and has been a pensioner for the past 16 years. In a normal society, people like her proudly go on retirement knowing they will spend their remaining years in decent and safe housing. However, Mrs Matjiela has lived her entire life, including her one and half decades of retirement, in a shack. This was not the case because of her laziness to work and build her own home. It was as a result of being denied an opportunity to a job that could provide her with a living wage. She was treated like a slave and an outcast in her own country by her own countrymen and women who had imposed their authority to her and other black people. Through the past system, many of our people were denied an opportunity to earn an income. Those who were said to be fortunate to get employment were treated like slaves and paid money that could not even afford them a plate on the table. Mrs Matjiela and the 5000 other people getting houses today as well as millions others have endured this pain throughout their lives. That today she is a proud owner of a decent home is an indication that the right to elect the government of your choice does indeed bring positive outcomes in our lives. This is actually the case if the people are able to choose a government that is capable and has a good track record with regards to prioritization of the plight of poor people. Our democratic government regards what happened to Mrs Matjiela and all the black people during the past system as unacceptable. We strongly believe that it should not have happened. However, we are committed to ensure that this is not allowed to happen again. Hence, we have ensured that the basic right to adequate shelter is enshrined in our Constitution. My department regards proper housing as a basis for a promising and prosperous life for an individual household. From a decent home, our elderly can retire in a safe environment. From a decent home, our children can play and learn in a safe environment and our entire community can thrive with pride. Economic opportunities also mushroom out of a safe environment that the individual families find themselves in. I am delighted to be part of the celebrations for yet another milestone in the history of this part of our country. Today, we all celebrate with the 500 households of Modimolle who are getting keys to their homes. These are the people who have been living in the shacks and other makeshift housing on the farms and outskirts of this town. But, these are the people who never gave up hope that the government that they voted into power out of their own will would deliver for them. Of particular importance is that the initiation of this project is not only aimed at providing shelter to the homeless. Like other projects elsewhere in the country, it is also aimed at integrating the various human settlements of the town that were separated by the apartheid laws of the past government. I am therefore impressed to see that our next development will complete the task of merging the old township with the old town of Nylstroom, thus creating a single community of Modimolle in real terms. As government, we are proud to have invested R11,5 Million in this project. Apart from having provided shelter to the five hundred households in this township, this investment has also empowered a total of 187 people with building skills, working experience and a wage. Of these people, I am told 67 were the youth, 60 women and 60 men. I hope constructing these houses has been a productive experience to them. In addition to these benefits, I must say that our housing package that comes with a house, secure tenure in the form of a title-deed, running water and sanitation as well as electricity, is one of the most effective tools of bringing real change to our people. This is the reason why we opted for the same package in this project and the further 300 households who will get houses in this municipality in the next financial year are also assured of the same benefits. I, therefore, want to thank the mayor and his council for pushing for the implementation of our government’s priorities at local level. I also want to thank the people of Modimolle for your continued support of your council. Programme Director, allow me to thank the MEC and the provincial executive council as well as the legislature and all the people of Limpopo in working together to better the lives of the poor. The National Department of Housing will continue to support provinces in the implementation of housing programmes. We are, therefore, honoured to be part of the celebrations of the ten years of housing delivery in the province. The 121 000 houses that the province has delivered over the past ten years are a reason why I did not hesitate to be with you here today. This is because I know how these houses have changed the lives of 600 000 beneficiaries who previously did not have homes to pride themselves with for the better. What impresses me most is that our projects are rapidly undoing the past spatial patterns which were a result of apartheid planning. I am also impressed by the fact that since 1994, no less than 147 000 subsidies have been approved for this province alone. This implies that at least 25 000 households or 123 000 people will benefit to our housing programme in the near future. This, indeed, gives us a reason to celebrate ten years of our democracy. It also gives us a reason why we should ensure that we defend our gains for the past ten years of our democracy. Lastly, Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to emphasise the fact that we are almost at the end of term for this government. However, we are closing the first decade of our democracy with pride. But, at the same time, let us not forget the mammoth task of improving the lives of all our people that still lies ahead of us. I, therefore, appeal to you to ensure that the second decade of our democracy is as successful as the first one and that you ensure that you all go to the polls to vote correctly. I thank you. |