The Mpumalanga Department of Human Settlement working together with Msukaligwa Local Municipality launched a Farm Residents Assistance Programme through a sod-turning event last Thursday at the Uitzicht Farm.
The Human Settlement programme will benefit 50 beneficiaries at the farm near the Morgenzon road.
The programme was incepted to provide a mechanism for on-farm housing provision in partnership with the farm owners.
It provides access to adequate housing, including basic services and secure tenure.
It also promotes the development of sustainable human settlements.
This comes amid many residents on farms in Msukaligwa protesting against the lack of service delivery, which places the municipality in a predicament, as they cannot encroach on private property.
Uitzicht Farm is changing the status quo and welcomed the Department of Human Settlements to build on the land.
In order to qualify for the housing assistance for farm dwellers, the farm owner must be prepared to subdivide the farm and transfer portions to farm residents with subdivisions large enough to enable at least sustainable subsistence farming.
Subdivision takes place within the prevailing legislative provisions.
Development will be undertaken by the farm owner, province or private developer.
50 low-cost houses will be given to deserving beneficiaries selected out of a particular criteria.
99-year- old Mr Johannes Zulu, who was born on the farm and began working there when he 14 years old until he retired at the age of 65, will be one of the beneficiaries. He has worked under the farm owner’s parents and later Mr Paul Grey.
Uitzicht Farm benefited from government in 2014 through the Eskom Electrification Programme where they were set up with electricity connections.
Executive Mayor of Msukaligwa, Mr M.S. Nkosi, welcomed the plan, quoting the Freedom Charter and the Constitution saying “everybody must have a shelter”.
He added that the beneficiaries were lucky and blessed to have a man of Paul Grey’s calibre.
“If it were our making, we would have many Paul Greys on all the farms,” he said.
He also warned the beneficiaries to take care of the houses and ensure that they are maintained properly.
Beneficiaries welcomed the implementation of the programme in the area with jubilation.
Msukaligwa MMC Ms Julia Bal echoed the mayor’s words, saying no matter how bad service delivery was, people could not live in shacks; they need houses.
She added that this would give them dignity as well as pride.
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