Residents of Bekkersdal expressed their joy having been relocated to new houses recently.
The Westonaria Borwa Integrated Housing Development once completed will consist of 6 500 housing units, with 2 988 stands earmarked for RDP houses, 2 611 earmarked for bonded stock and 439 units for rental stock.
The project was born out of the need to relocate approximately 15 000 households from the unsafe dolomite land of Bekkersdal and also to eradicate local informal settlements in the area.
To date 1 200 low-cost houses have been completed and will be allocated in two phases; the first phase will allocate 1 000 houses and the second phase 200. The project specifically concentrated on the 1996 to 2000 beneficiaries that might have been left out. Nearly 300 beneficiaries have been relocated thus far.
Beneficiaries who are already relocated are overjoyed with their new living arrangements. One such beneficiary is Maria Nxumalo, aged 65.
“I am so glad. I saw people getting houses and never thought that I too would get one. I can testify that the government is working for the people.”
Elias Moreki Modise, 71, and Zandile Esther Dlamini, 51, were two more residents who received houses and were very happy with their new spacious and beautiful homes.
The handovers started after David Makhura – Gauteng Premier, Jacob Mamabolo – Human Settlements and COGTA MEC, councillor Mpho Nawa – executive mayor of the West Rand District Municipality and councillor Nonkoliso Tundzi – executive mayor of Westonaria Local Municipality officially handed over the houses late last year.
