The Minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, has assured the community of Colesberg in the Pixley Ka Seme District Municipality in Northern Cape Province that government will intervene on blocked and incomplete housing project, as they result in potential beneficiaries waiting longer and unable to occupy their homes.

“In an effort to deliver more houses in the Northern Cape, the Department of Human Settlements is considering increasing the budget allocation of the Provincial Department of Human Settlements in the next financial year, 2023/2024,” said Minister Kubayi during a District Development Model Community Imbizo and Service Fair at the Toto Mabaya Stadium on Thursday, 8 December 2022.

The main purpose of the Imbizo was to engage community members on the provision of basic services such as water and sanitation and human settlements. Minister Kubayi, as the District Champion of the Pixley Ka Seme District Municipality, emphasized a decision taken at the recent meeting with MECs (MINMEC) that senior citizens will be prioritized going forward.

“Elderly citizens from 70 years old should be on top of our beneficiary housing waiting list. These are our mothers and fathers that raised us. They deserve our utmost attention”, she said.

The engagement with communities from various municipalities followed a meeting attended by all three spheres of government and a visit to project sites, which to date remain incomplete, including the Oubox Housing Project located in the Umsombonvu Municipality. Some of the incomplete housing units have since either been vandalised or illegally occupied.

“It is unfortunate that houses have not been finished since 2016 and the risks that some of them may end up being used as hives for criminal activities. We have agreed that National and Provincial Departments of Human Settlements will work together to finish the work started, but most importantly, we must pay more attention to increasing the number of homes built to cater for people who qualify, alongside other amenities,” said the Minister, as she outlined government interventions to improve and accelerate service delivery through the DDM.

 
The Minister, together with the MEC Bentley Vass, Mayor of Pixley Kaseme District Municipality, Cllr Rhoode Itumeleng, Mayor of Umsobomvu Local Municipality, Cllr Mzwandile Toto and Mayor of Emthanjeni Local Municipality, Cllr Lulamile Nkumbi also handed over title deeds to beneficiaries of the fully subsidised government houses at the Imbizo.

The three spheres of government undertook to urgently deal with other delivery issues raised by community members. The Minister cautioned against the illegal occupation of houses, as it disadvantages the rightful owners and can have serious legal consequences for offenders. She further appealed to the community members to stand firm and protect women and young girls against all forms of violence as we mark 16 Days of Activism, saying “GBV is a pandemic in our society that we should all commit to bringing it to an end”.

For Media Enquiries, contact: Hlengiwe Nhlabathi-Mokota, Ministry Spokesperson on 064 754 8426 OR Babalwa Mzambo, MEC spokesperson on 083 390 1974.
 

Issued by the Ministry of Human Settlements
Govan Mbeki House
240 Justice Mahomed Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria
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