Best built stakeholders receive recognition
The awards were aimed at recognizing and honouring key role players who have contributed to government’s endeavors of housing.
The Mpumalanga Department of Human Settlements recently hosted the annual Govan Mbeki Awards (GMA).
The awards were held on Friday, September 15 at the City Hall and were aimed at recognizing and honouring key role players who have contributed substantially to government’s endeavors of housing the needy in the province through its new broadened integrated and sustainable mandate.
In his address, Mpumalanga MEC for Human Settlements, Mr Speedy Mashilo said the awards were named after Govan Mbeki who dedicated his life to the improvement and development of all South Africans. He also said that naming the awards after him was a way of honouring him and to give gratitude to many who worked tirelessly to ensure that South Africans enjoy a better life.
The department’s stance of realizing proper integrated sustainable human settlements in the province was adequately illustrated. The awards were also held to celebrate and honour tremendous work done by all stakeholders in the building sector.
Making a grand opening of the ceremony, Human Settlements Head of Department, Mr Kebone Masange said that the department was not in any way primed to fail or compromise its services; hence there is so much concerted effort to ensure that houses of good quality are built.
“This sector is one of the most complex anyone could ever know. There is so much that comes with it and every part of it must be done in the right way,” explained Masange.
Despite praising much of the good work that has been done, Masange took a swipe at underperforming contractors saying that the department would not give anyone a blanket approach in case they failed to deliver on time but send them straight out into the cold.
He said, “It is proper for us to appreciate the good service, however, that does not mean we should not point out any sloppy work done and such would not be left unpunished.”
One amongst many anticipated categories was best established women contractor, best youth emerging contractor, best rural and informal upgrading settlements projects.
The overall winner was Ms Dionne Mhlongo from DR Bongani Investments, who won the best established women contractor and she expressed her delight and acknowledged the department for recognizing her hard work.
“It’s exciting to be among the best winners but more importantly the recognition to honour the hard work we put in every day together with my team,” she said.
Meanwhile Human Settlements MEC, Mr Speedy Mashilo said housing provision is biased towards needy beneficiaries. He said RDP houses were meant for the elderly, child headed families and people living with disabilities.
“We must go back to basics. Young men shouldn’t expect government to build houses for them; instead they should work hard and build houses for their families,” said Mashilo.
The awards encourage contractors who make government proud by producing good quality houses across the province. The GMA came shortly after the department received a visit from Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on human settlements which visited the province to assess progress on sustainable integrated human settlement projects in Mpumalanga.
The overall winners in all the ten Competing Categories were:
*Best informal upgrading project: Baphi Investment
*Best intergraded residential development programme: Shirdo Trading
*Best rural housing project: KD Madonsela Trading and Project
*Best non-subsidy market: LLG Projects
*Best established women contractor: DR Bongani Investment
*Best youth emerging contractor: Asishiyelane Supply
*Best community residential units: Prince of Tides
*Best finance linked individual subsidy (CRU): Umziwethu Holdings
*Best accredited municipality level 1: Govan Mbeki local municipality
*Best accredited municipality level 2: Steve Tshwete local municipality
MEC merit awards were as follows:
*Best military veteran’s project: Asishiyelane Supply
*Best bulk infrastructure development (engineering): CMP BEE Civil Engineering
*Best bulk infrastructure development (sites servicing): Sefako Engineering (PTY) (LTD)
*Best Conveyancer: Singwane and Partners
*Best enhanced people’s housing process: Msuthu Properties Avax 181 cc
*Best supporting media house: Ligwalagwala FM current affairs (national radio), Mautse Community Radio current affairs (local radio), France Nyaka New Age (national print media), Phumla Nkalanga Mpumalanga News (local print media)
All the overall winners will compete with their counterparts from other provinces at the National GMA ceremony scheduled for November this year.
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