33 families recieve new homes

A total of 33 excited families braved a chilly and rainy winter’s day recently to take ownership of 33 Bohlabelala Ext 2 flats in Eastbank under a bond arrangement with government and local banks.

The flats, which are part of a complex of multi-story units, have been unoccupied for the past two years and were once battlegrounds with several skirmishes between the police and groups of residents calling themselves the Bonafides, who were disenchanted with the lack of accommodation in the community while the flats remained unoccupied.

The Bonafides occupied the flats but were eventually evicted.

The flats are reserved for Alex residents under a bond arrangement called the Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme. The scheme subsidises approved applicants in the R3 500 to R15 000 income bracket by R38 000. This for the two-bedroom units with a toilet, bathroom and open plan kitchen, dining room and living room. The flats range in price from R260 000 to R290 000.

The beneficiaries will make monthly repayments of between R3 200 and R4 000.

Many empty units still remain and it is hoped that the new occupation of the 33 families was a start to hastened occupation.

The ecstatic recipients were appreciative of government and stated that their hopes had been waning and the wait was unbearable, long, confusing and some had given up.

The families received their homes at a ribbon-cutting ceremony presided over by city council’s MMC for Housing, Dan Bovu in the presence of other MMCs, councillors and city officials.

Happy Dube, one of the recipients, said the families endured a hard test in patience since 2012. “This after attending many workshops for all residents on the criteria for qualifying, shortlisting, verification of status and seemingly rigorous, but slow, approval process. I have a three-year-old child who will also appreciate having her own permanent home and bedroom,” Dube said.

Soon to be his neighbour, Timmy Maleka said prayers to his ancestors were finally answered. “It will take a while to sink in. It’s worthy slaughtering a goat in ancestral appreciation,” he quipped.

The Mpe family of five who will relocate from 17th Avenue in Alexandra, were still in shock with Simon, the family head, saying this was after waiting 30 years for his home.

“I have been renting a room [with all my] family members. This is a far cry from that unbearable condition without privacy and, also, sharing one public toilet with other residents. It will be a very happy moment every day to come back to my own home,” Mpe concluded.

Bovu urged them not to disappoint and honour their monthly bond repayments to encourage the government to extend the programme to others.