GEORGE NEWS - Two staff members of the Provincial Department of Human Settlements (WCDOHS) were welcomed by District Mayor Memory Booysen during a virtual Garden Route council meeting on Tuesday.
Shehaam Sims and Joel Mkunqwana have joined the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) to assist them with their new task to fast-track certain housing developments in collaboration with the provincial department.
"I know that they are already rock stars. Following last week's press conference, my phone has already been ringing off the hook - probably theirs as well," said Booysen.
He said they have been very busy behind the scenes since the announcement of the Memorandum of Agreement between WCDOHS and the GRDM last Friday.
"We are very excited of what might lie ahead and can't wait to showcase to the rest of the country how cooperation between district municipalities and local municipalities can benefit everyone," he said.
"We're not going to pretend that there are not serious questions emanating from this historic event. We're not going to get tired of explaining to people how it will work and we will engage with the local municipalities to resolve any uncertainties.
"However, I do need to reiterate that we are not planning to take away the role or mandate of local municipalities we are partnering with, because we want to make sure that everyone benefits. In particular, I refer here to those who want to be beneficiaries in the human settlements space - we want everyone to benefit regardless of their status in life."
Joel Mkunqwana Photo: Michelle Pienaar
Food pantry
On the same day, last week Friday, the GRDM also officially opened the Garden Route Food Pantry. Booysen said the R1,3-million initiative was triggered by the after-effects and unintended consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, and will span over a period of three years.
"There are ongoing discussions that the purpose is to feed the needy and to make sure that there is dignity in each and every household in the Garden Route. More importantly, to make sure nobody goes to bed without having had a meal," said Booysen.
"I'm reinforcing what I've said in the presence of all other mayors: This is to complement what is happening at a local level. We are aware that there are soup kitchens and homes where people feed communities from their own kitchens.
Also read: Food pantry doors are open
"This intervention is to complement what they're doing. Even bigger; if there is a need, we can distribute supplies from this food pantry to them as well."
Shehaam Sims Photo: Michelle Pienaar
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