The Mpumalanga Department of Human Settlements continues with its efforts to realise its mandate in the Bushbuckridge area. This as Human Settlement MEC, Mr. Speed Mashilo announced servicing 3800 sites in ward 36 for self-built. Mashilo told the public during Executive Council Outreach public hearings held at Thulamahhashe Stadium in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality. The public hearing is a mechanism to deepen public participation wherein government interacts with the community.
Some of the issues raised by the public related to water shortages, road infrastructure, healthcare facilities, and the provision of government-subsidized houses. Concerning houses, the burning issue was the incomplete houses and the backlog. To this end, Mashilo attributed the incompletion of houses to crime and hooliganism. “The delivery of services is a joint effort that involves government, community, and businesses; thus, we all ought to work together. Crime and hooliganism is an enemy of progress as it adversely affects the completion of houses on time”, said Mashilo.
MEC Mashilo also used the opportunity to rally the community against criminals that delays delivery. In addressing the backlog, the department has allocated the construction of 520 housing units in various areas in the locality. This is against the municipality's request of 1000 houses made to the department. The department handed over 130 title deeds to the municipality to promote property ownership.
Public members welcomed the pronouncements by MEC Mashilo, attesting that the servicing of sites project will assist in building decent houses. “We appreciated what the MEC said about the servicing of sites in ward 36 and hope this kind of development can spread quickly to other villages”, said Ben Ndlovu, a community member from Agincourt. Portia Magagula echoed him and hoped to benefit from the 520 housing units allocated to the municipality.
ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORATE
MPUMALANGA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
CONTACT: FREDDY NGOBE – 013 766 6014 / 082 859 4630/ flngobe@mpg.gov.za