It was tears of joy for residents of Raymond Mhlaba area in Kwazakhele in Nelson Mandela Bay when they received government subsidised houses from the Eastern Cape Provincial Human Settlements MEC Siphokazi Mani-Lusithi on Tuesday, 9 May 2023.
MEC Lusithi was accompanied by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Human Settlement, Tukela Zumani.
Predominantly elderly women, child headed families and dissabled persons formed part of the 35 beneficiaries that received houses.
The residents of Raymond Mhlaba benefitted from a government intervention to help change the living conditions of many destitute families and those living in shacks including elderly and child-headed households.
The Raymond Mhlaba 49 Housing Project comprises of 49 low-cost housing units that are targeted at providing decent homes for the community of Raymond Mhlaba in Kwa at a total cost of R7.2 million. The project forms part of the NMBM’s Housing Programme and was identified as one of the priority projects in the Metro. Most of the beneficiaries come from different areas including Soweto-on-Sea and Kwazakhele surrounding areas. There are already 35 completed houses ready for the handover.
Receiving her new house, 82-year-old beneficiary, Philda Vaaltyn said, she was grateful to have a house after so many years. “I would like to thank my neighbours who have always helped out on rainy days when my shack could not provide shelter. I am in loss of words to express how I feel. I have waited for this day since 1994. Winter seasons will never be the same for me now, I have a house I can call home”.
The Department of Human Settlements is targeting to build 1411 houses in the NMBM during this current Financial Year, with a budget of R215 million.
MEC Lusithi said: “There is still a lot of work to be done in changing peoples lives. This is a special project because it accommodates the vulnerable group, the elderly, children and the physically challenged. The cooperation of both province and the Municipality is yeilding positive results”.
MMC Zumani said the acceleration of housing in Nelson Mandela Bay is a result of good cooperation and working relations of the three spheres of government. “We as all spheres we understand the urgency of the conditions that our people live under. We are equally moving with speed to improve their conditions. We also understand that there is still a lot of work to be done”.
The project was implemented by four women led contractors who started work last year in November.
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