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14 December 2006

The Gauteng MEC for Housing, Ms Nomvula Mokonyane, officially handed over completed Sicelo Shiceka housing project to the Midvaal Local Municipality in Sedibeng today.

Sicelo Shiceka came into being in 1996 after farm workers from the surrounding farms settled in the then informal settlement. Most of these residents were either evicted or had lost their jobs in the farms.

In 2002, the Department of Housing intervened wherein it serviced the land through the installation of water and sewer pipes. This year the department resolved to build proper houses for the residents of Sicelo Shiceka. The department entered into project linked consolidation subsidy agreement with Gamont Development for the construction of these units in March this year.

At least 1 000 of the targeted 1 089 houses have been completed with beneficiaries already moving in. These four-room houses with water and sewer reticulation system have been built with toilets inside to discourage resident from erecting backyard shacks.

Mokonyane said, “The Gauteng Provincial Government is committed to improve lives of the poor through quality and sustainable housing developments such as this one. No developer in the province should build a house that is less than 36 square meters with at least two bedrooms. The houses we are handing over today are an asset base and would in future be used as a surety to access finance from financial institution.

Our approach to have the toilets inside the house will go a long way in helping us maintain the value of the houses as this will prevent the mushrooming of shacks. We are aware that landlords are reluctant to allow their tenants to use their private toilets as opposed to an outside one".

The MEC also urged the beneficiaries to desist from selling their houses as this derails the delivery of houses.

“No one is allowed to sell a Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) house before owning that property for more than eight years. I would like to urge all the beneficiaries who cannot be traced to come forward so that they can occupy their stands,” said Mokonyane.

The Department also entered into an agreement with the construction company, Gamont that all the new structures should be electrified and all existing informal structures should be dismantled.

A total of R30 million was budgeted for this housing project and 150 jobs were created for local people.

Enquiries:
Victor Moreriane
Cell: 082 561 3768

Mandla Sidu
Cell: 083 602 6169

Issued by: Department of Housing, Gauteng Provincial Government
14 December 2006