GEORGE NEWS - George Municipality with the aid of provincial funding, has handed over 483 houses in the Thembalethu Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (UISP) since late last year to residents. Another 167 houses of the total 700 houses have been awarded to various contractors and are in various stages of construction.

The subsidy applications is an ongoing process and as beneficiaries get approved, the contractors get appointed to construct the houses in clusters.

At the Golden Valley Housing Project, three houses that were built by Makhare Holdings have been handed over to the beneficiaries. PHP Building Supplies have to date completed 46 slabs (foundation) and 14 houses are at wall plate height (roof height).

At Extensions 42 and 58, 54 units completed by Makhare Holdings (14) and Moreki Distributors (40) have been handed over to the beneficiaries.

Appointment letters have been issued to Makhare Holdings for the construction of 33 units and Moreki Distributors has been allocated 13 units. Once the National Home Builders Regulatory Council (NHBRC) approval has been granted, construction can commence.

The Metro Grounds Housing project is underway with ACV Civils appointed for the construction of civil services for water, sewerage and piping etc. The construction of top structures (houses) will commence once the installation of the civil services has been completed.

Portfolio Councillor of Human Settlements, David Willemse, asked all beneficiaries of houses to look after their properties and take pride in them. "The most important house is the one that you have, the one you're living in… time and energy spent in a house will help to elevate the importance of the property. We eat, sleep, feel safe, laugh and cry in our homes and that makes it really important to us. It becomes part of our identity," said Willemse.

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