Dilapidated mud houses, cow dung flooring and streamwater are now a thing of the past for the beneficiaries of a rural housing development project in Mpumalanga.

This came about as the deputy minister of agriculture, land reform and rural development, Mcebisi Skwatsha, joined by the MEC for human settlements, Speedy Mashilo, and the MEC for agriculture, rural development, land and environmental affairs, Busi Shiba, handed over a 35-unit housing project to farm dwellers on Paardeplaats and Rietfontein farms in Belfast, Emakhazeni Local Municipality, over the weekend.

Giving his keynote address, Skwatsha said his department has built these houses with the aim of improving the welfare and living conditions of all farm dwellers.

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“We are fulfilling the promise to restore dignity of farm dwellers and labour tenants who have historically been stripped of dignity.”

He added that this would not be the last intervention, and that it is a campaign that will find expression in other parts of countries.

Among those who benefited from the project was Marida Mahlangu (74), who heads a family of 11 and has been living on Paardeplaats Farm for years as a labour tenant. Another was Leah Moloko (43), who lived here with her two children since 1993.

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Both beneficiaries echoed each other’s sentiments on how the project changed their plight.

“Our mud houses used to collapse, and we never had running water or electricity. We can only thank government for this life-changing experience,” said Moloko.

Mashilo said this intervention has undoubtedly thrusted directly at the heart of the housing backlog in the province, and was duly welcomed by housing owners and beneficiaries.