74 beneficiaries get homes in Mamelodi East

Emily Mabika in her new home in Et5 Mamelodi East moments after it was handed over by MMC for Housing and Human Settlements Mandla Nkomo. Picture: Phill Magakoe

Emily Mabika in her new home in Et5 Mamelodi East moments after it was handed over by MMC for Housing and Human Settlements Mandla Nkomo. Picture: Phill Magakoe

Published Sep 16, 2016

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Pretoria - Housing beneficiaries in Mamelodi East were ecstatic when they received keys to their new homes on Thursday - but that was just 74 units out of the city’s backlog of at least 120 000 houses.

MMC for housing and human settlements Mandla Nkomo, who made the dream of housing beneficiaries come true, was confident the city would eventually restore the dignity of its citizens, brick by brick and one housing project at a time.

The MMC handed the new abodes in Extension 5 which cost R110 000 each to build.

The allocation of the houses was a stroke of genius on the part of the metro, as these are the same houses that had been standing empty before they were forcefully occupied two weeks ago.

The occupation ended in a violent clash involving police, the Red Ants and the occupants.

Still with some work outstanding, the 74 houses were inspected and approved for quality assurance. Police will keep a close watch on them until calm is fully restored.

“Our country’s history meant a lot of pain and inequality, and trying to reverse the wrongs of the past is a complex task, but one we remain committed to,” the MMC said.

Emily Mabika, one of the beneficiaries, said Christmas had came early for her and her six grandchildren. The 63-year-old pensioner had been living in a dilapidated structure at her family’s house in Mamelodi West for a long time. During the rainy season, the place would be flooded and the family’s biggest fear was it would collapse.

“I’ve been praying since 1999. when I first applied for an RDP house, that one day I would be able to live in a house I could call mine. I cherish this house and I hope that my grandchildren will look after it for years to come,” Mabika said.

Now the family will be able to sleep comfortably in a new house, and Mabika will be able to live a normal, dignified life with her grandchildren.

“I feel great at the moment. I don’t know what to say. I’m thankful to the City Of Tshwane and all the people who played a role in building this house,” she said, fighting back tears.

Another beneficiary Jan Makgoba, 60, was a shack-dweller for more than 20 years. “I’m very happy that I have a roof over my head and a place to call home today. I’ve been moving from one place to the other and this has affected my family a lot. I want to encourage those who are still on the waiting list to be patient because their turn will come.”

Nkomo said the aim was to transform the city’s unequal and segregated landscape by building sustainable communities and providing adequate, quality services and infrastructure for all who live in the capital.

He said the city intended to fast-track the formalisation of informal settlements, proclaim suppressed townships and relocate families in informal settlements to permanent serviced stands.

He discussed some of the details of the houses, such as insulated ceilings and energy-efficient lights, which would be later installed to assist residents with saving on electricity and related costs.

So far, the houses have running water but no electricity and comprise two bedrooms, a bathroom, an open-plan kitchen and dining room.

This is the first phase of units to be conferred to beneficiaries and will be followed by the second and third phases, with 76 and 176 houses respectively.

City of Tshwane spokesman Lindela Mashigo said the metro still had a long way to go to reduce the housing backlog.

“Demand for housing is more than 120 000 and changes as and when more people register.

“It does not necessarily mean that when you apply you’ll qualify to get a house; the system is also able to pick those that have benefited already or do not qualify.”

Mashigo also condemned the seizing of land by illegal occupants and encouraged people to follow correct procedure by getting on the housing list.

Nkomo, meanwhile, said it was important for all sectors of society to work together, because the government alone could not deal with all challenges facing communities, including housing.

“If we all pull in the same direction, there is nothing that we can’t achieve,” he said to loud cheers from community members.

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Pretoria News

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