Msimanga announces new RDP houses built with money from sale of mayoral mansion

At least 40 families in Atteridgeville will have a roof over their heads since the City of Tshwane has started building RDP houses from proceeds of the sale of mayoral mansion last year.

Speaking at his second State of the Capital Address (SoCA) at Tshwane House on Thursday, Solly Msimanga announced that the building of the homes will start in May. The City has already started installing service stands in the area.

“Not only are we providing homes to deserving families, but we are also contributing to the creation of work opportunities, as the construction project will contribute to employment in the community and benefit local families,” Msimanga said.

Workers would be trained in construction and professional areas to develop skills that could be used in future, he said.

The elderly, disabled, child-headed households and those who registered on the National Housing Needs Register would get first preference, with some beneficiaries already identified.

“We have Ms Evelin Khuboni, an elderly woman who registered on the National Housing Needs Register 1999. She is currently renting a backroom in Mamelodi. We have Mr Baxter, who grew up in Paarl in a foster home with two of his seven siblings. He came to Pretoria in 1996, and he is staying in Wesford since 2006. He survives by recycling from his shack.”

At his inaugural State of the Capital Address last year, Msimanga had promised to sell off the four-bedroom mayoral house in Nieuw Muckelneuk. The house was sold for R5.1 million at an auction in November last year.

“The decision to sell the mayoral house was an easy one. We assessed the true benefits of this double-storey four-bedroom house which benefits only one family, and is occasionally used for couple of meetings with diplomats against providing a roof, property ownership, asset base and dignity to needy families. Common sense prevailed.”