By Albert Pule and Phatheka Ntanta
Port Elizabeth- Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and his delegation of ministers swapped suits for overalls on Saturday during the war on poverty campaign in the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality.
The delegation visited four projects starting with the construction of a house in Chatty, a visit to a local resource centre, painting of a newly built house and lastly handed over furniture and groceries to a disabled 95-year-old man.
The first stop of the delegation was a construction site where they joined construction workers in the construction of a house at stand No 12727 of Chatty.
The construction project is a partnership between the Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements, the municipality and the Housing Development Agency. The R110 million project is expected to be completed in 2014.
Nicolas Tsweu of the Housing Development Agency said there will be 1 380 new houses built between now and March 2014. Over 500 houses have been completed and occupied since construction started in September 2012. An additional 1 060 houses will be built in phase 3 of the construction project.
After participating in the construction, the delegation visited the Helenville Resource Centre where they undertook a walk- about to see the building progress of the centre.
After the inspection of the resource centre, the war on poverty was taken to a newly built house in Missionvale where a family of six is expected to occupy the house in the first week of August.
The new occupant of the house, 34-year-old Mbulelo Jamela said the new house will restore his family’s dignity and he will raise his children in a decent home. “I’m happy about this house and we are looking forward to moving in.”
From upgrading the newly built house, the delegation visited a 95-year-old disabled man who had been staying alone in a house. The house was dilapidated without a bed, furniture and in “no condition to house a human being”. Various government departments contributed to the upgrading of the house.
Director General in the Presidency Cassius Lubisi said although the upgrading of the house might seem like a drop in the ocean, it will go a long way in restoring the dignity of the old man.
The delegation concluded the campaign with a community meeting where community members raised issues that need government attention. –SAnews.gov.za
