The decades-long struggle of living in informal settlements without land ownership has finally come to an end for Nonkosi Koom from Red Location in the Nelson Mandela Bay, Eastern Cape.
The 62-year-old was among the beneficiaries of the Red Location housing development and received the keys to her brand-new home this week, a moment which she describes as a dream come true.
This as Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, Babalwa Lobishe, officially handed over 24 new houses to the beneficiaries on Monday.
The houses are part of a larger project that will see the construction of 171 houses, aimed at addressing historic housing inequalities in the area.
The beneficiaries have been living in shacks for several years while waiting for the houses to be built, as part of the greater Red Location project that was approved to address the historical imbalances of houses in the area.
“I now own property and have a title deed for my house for the first time in my life. I have been moved from place to place due to the unsuitable conditions of our shacks and areas that we occupied but have kept the faith that one day I will get a house,” said an elated Koom.
The project which is located within the broader Red Location Museum precinct, has long been anticipated by the local community. It was originally expected to be completed by 18 September 2024; however, progress was delayed due to consultations over the design and size of the houses.
Speaking at the handover event, Lobishe reaffirmed the government’s commitment to delivering on its promises.
“We were here four years ago to brief you about this project. We have been walking this journey with you all these years. Today we have started to deliver with these 24 houses, and more houses will follow, as per the R14 million budget approval,” Lobishe said.
The mayor urged the beneficiaries to take care of the houses, as they will now be their responsibility.
Municipality’s Head for Human Settlements, Thembinkosi Mafana, highlighted ongoing efforts by the city’s Human Settlements Directorate to secure additional funding from both provincial and national government to ensure the full completion of the Red Location project.
“We will continue to deliver houses in a manner that has got a heart and a human face. In every project that we deliver, there must be elderly, physically challenged, child-headed and other vulnerable sectors of the society,” Mafana said. – SAnews.gov.za
