The eradication of mud houses remains at the heart of the government’s commitment to providing decent shelter and fostering a habitable environment. Mpumalanga MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA), Mr. Speed Mashilo, reaffirmed this priority as he reviewed the Department’s progress in eradicating unsafe housing structures across the province.
At the 2024/25 Policy and Budget Speech, MEC Mashilo committed the Department of Human Settlements to demolish and replace 261 mud houses with safe, durable homes through the Rural Housing Programme. This ambitious initiative aligns with resolutions from a forum on the Minister and Human Settlements MEC’s (MinMEC) to improve rural housing conditions, ensuring a better quality of life for all residents.
A total of 210 mud houses have already been replaced with proper housing, benefiting communities in Mkhondo, Bushbuckridge, and Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipalities at the end of the third quarter. These newly built homes stand as a testament to the Department’s unwavering dedication to fostering safe and dignified living environments for Mpumalanga’s most vulnerable residents.
Despite these successes, the project has encountered notable challenges. The scattered nature of rural settlements has posed logistical difficulties, while some beneficiaries have resisted the demolition of existing mud houses, delaying progress. Additionally, financial constraints have impacted timelines for housing delivery. To address these issues, the Department has enhanced community engagement, strengthened stakeholder coordination, and is actively pursuing additional funding to ensure the programme’s success.
MEC Mashilo emphasised the importance of collective effort in overcoming these obstacles, stating, “The eradication of mud houses is about more than meeting targets—it is about giving hope to families and ensuring that no one is left behind in our pursuit of a better future for all. We urge municipalities, community leaders, and stakeholders to join hands with us in this noble initiative.” Mkhondo is one of the benefiting local municipality. Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) responsible for Planning and Economic Development, Cllr Thembisile Khumalo, welcomed the intervention by the department stating that, “this will go a long way in improving people’s lives as it marks a critical step toward creating sustainable and resilient communities across the province, reaffirming the government’s promise to uplift its people and build a brighter future for all”.
ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORATE
MPUMALANGA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
CONTACT: FREDDY NGOBE – 013 766 6014 / 082 859 4630/ flngobe@mpg.gov.za