GEORGE NEWS - Three families moved into their new homes last week Friday after a contractor for the George Municipality finished three more of the 150 top structures that have been awarded to the company to build.

The contractors, Lawula and Marnol JV (Joint Venture), have handed over 110 houses to date.

This project forms part of the Thembalethu Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (UISP) and is part of phase 1, which consists of 1 746 serviced plots. Funding has been received to build 700 top structures (houses).

Lawula and Marnol JV have been appointed to build the first 150 top structures of phase 1 and 250 structures for phase 2. The cost of a serviced property (with all municipal services) amounts to R43 000 and the top structures R111 000.

The Enhanced People's Housing Process (EPHP) housing programme was implemented in this project, adding more value to the project through giving the participants the opportunity to have a say in the product that was delivered to them.

The required norms and standards of the Department of Human Settlements are far exceeded in this project by delivering a 42m² house that is fully tiled and has a tiled roof, aluminium windows, kitchen cabinets and outdoor lights.

David Willemse, portfolio councillor for Human Settlements, congratulated the beneficiaries on the receipt of their new homes and thanked the ward councillor, Ntombi James, and officials for their hard work and involvement.

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