Pretoria – Christmas came early for about 300 families in Lady Selbourne, north of Pretoria, when they received new homes.
Gauteng Premier David Makhura, together with Human Settlements MEC Jacob Mamabolo, handed over the houses to the new owners today.
Lady Selbourne is a mixed housing development, which will also be racially integrated. It is located in the north of Tshwane, about 10km from the CBD. It will bring those who were living far from town nearer to economic and work opportunities.
On completion, it will consist of 5 700 housing units and the beneficiaries will have various options of tenure, including fully subsidised (RDP) houses, low income housing, conventional bonded housing, finance-linked subsidy housing (FLISP) and rental stock.
Premier Makhura said the provincial government will continue to build houses especially for those who cannot afford to buy or build their own homes.
The Premier used the occasion to warn those who sell their RDP houses, saying this was a criminal act. Those found guilty would be dealt with harshly.
He also assured those on the housing list that before houses are handed over, the list will be verified to ensure that only those who applied get houses.
“You have a government that cares. When people have houses, they also need jobs. Without jobs, they won’t be able to pay for their services,” the Premier said.
He said the provincial government would continue doing all it can to ensure houses are built and completed on quickly.
“Our projects must be delivered on time and on budget,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Morne Hendriks, said he was proud to be the owner of a new home. Hendriks and his family used to stay in a flat in town. The municipality moved them and others after announcing its plans to demolish the flats.
“I am so happy that this is happening just before Christmas. We are going to enjoy Christmas in our house,” he said.
Josephine Galane (65), who was also handed keys to a new house, could not contain her excitement. “I thank God for the house.”
Galane is also one of the people who were forcibly removed from the area by the apartheid government in 1964. Today she returned to the area as a home owner.
The area of Lady Selbourne presents a rich historical background as original residents were forcibly removed in the 1950/60s and are now land claimants in terms of the Land Claims Act.
The area was established in 1905 as a freehold township for coloured people, but quickly became a melting pot for coloureds, Indians and Africans. – SAnews.gov.za
