QONCE – In a significant initiative to eliminate mud structures and improve living conditions for poverty-stricken communities, the Eastern Cape Human Settlements MEC Siphokazi Lusithi, officially handed over 52 houses to beneficiaries in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality on Thursday, June 8, 2023.
The villages of Masingatha and Tolofiyeni eQonce have received support from the provincial government to assist destitute and vulnerable groups, offering them an opportunity to escape their difficult circumstances. Among the beneficiaries is 59 year old Makhaya Ndevu, who, along with his wife and two children, have been living in a dilapidated mud structure in Masingatha village. Ndevu currently sustains his family by doing garden work in the village.
The Ndevu family received a brand new fully furnished house.
MEC Siphokazi Lusithi-Mani, together with ward councillors and community leaders, has delivered 52 houses out of a planned 100 for the Masingatha and Tolofiyeni community in Buffalo City. This housing project aims to address the needs of underprivileged, disabled, and child-headed households, who are unable to wait for future housing projects due to the severity of their situations.
“This is one of the government’s ongoing projects aimed at addressing the pressing need for housing, We have been working tirelessly to revive stalled projects and complete unfinished houses,” said Lusithi-Mani.
The MEC explained that many of these projects are located in rural areas, where challenges such as limited land availability, remote housing locations, and insufficient infrastructure have contributed to delays.
Lusithi-Mani stated, “In the previous financial year, we managed to revive 34 projects, and this year, we are planning to revive 53 more, completing the houses in the following financial year. Importantly, these projects have also created job opportunities for the community, providing employment for both the youth and the elderly.”
Seventy one year old Debora Tsheyiya, who has been residing in a wet rondavel, expressed her excitement about the housing initiative and hopes for a speedy process. She applied for a house back in 1952 but was unsuccessful until now.
“I am grateful beyond words. Finally, God has answered my prayers for a place to call home. I sleep alone, and people coming from the tavern often throw stones at the walls, but my prayers have been heard,” said Tsheyiya.
Other community members, such as Nokwayintombi Milela and Makhaya Ndevu, also expressed their gratitude to the government for uplifting them from their challenging living conditions.
Ndevu acknowledged that although this was not their first application for housing, it was the visit from MEC Lusithi-Mani last year that sparked positive change and expedited the process.
With the successful handover of 52 houses, the Eastern Cape government continues to prioritize the well-being of its vulnerable citizens, offering them not just shelter but also hope, dignity, and a sense of belonging.
