GEORGE NEWS - The beneficiaries of the Thembalethu housing project are very happy with the progress being made.
The Chairman of the local Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (UISP) project committee, Clifford Madlokazi, said since March this year 41 houses have been handed over and 109 houses are under construction.
"Community members decided to go for the Enhanced People's Housing Process (EPHP) as the beneficiaries are actively involved in the decision making process and local people are employed to do the work."
He says this leads to the transferal of much needed skills and also boosts the local economy.
The Department of Human Settlements in consultation with the beneficiaries' committee appointed a Cape Town company, Lawula, as main contractor.
Aurecon is the implementation agent.
Vice-Chairman and Community Liaison Officer, Innocent Zenzile said the first phase of the housing project will ensure 700 happy first time home owners.
"We should be finished with these houses by the end of 2018. The houses are beautiful and well built. This is no rush job.
"We are ensuring that the houses are good quality and that it will last, unlike other houses that I have seen that have such wide cracks you can slide your hand inside."
The houses have two bedrooms, one bathroom, all with baths, a kitchenette and lounge. Some houses sport a small porch making the lounge area slightly smaller. The houses have striking roof tiles in hues of red, blue and yellow and huge windows.
The entire project will see 4 000 houses completed, but with 17 593 people on the waiting list, this will be addressing less than a quarter of the housing need.
The Division of Revenue Act (DoRA) housing allocation for 2017/2018 for George is R65 800 000. The DoRA allocation is made available for 4 years.
But, ANC George Chair Langa Langa says he doubts that the housing waiting lists are always compiled in such a fair and just way.
"I know of a case where a person who only registered for a house in the mid 2000s has already been given a house, while there are people who have been on the list since the late 90s."
He also says in some instances homes are 'sold' to those willing to pay, but the new homeowners that George Herald visited on Wednesday morning definitely looked like they received their homes on merit.
Forty-two-year-old Xolani Sondlo could hardly contain his joy. He apologised for the tidy bundle of bedding in the corner of one room, while proudly showing off his otherwise empty house, saying he has just moved in.
Noxolo Ntsytwana (51) has been on the waiting list for a house since 1999. She opted for a house with a porch while Sondlo wanted more inside space.
Be sure to get next week's George Herald to read about Langa's dream for George.
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