Homes at last for Etete residents

After a mammoth six years, the first phase of the Etete RDP housing is now complete.

Among the first people to receive their new homes last Friday was 79-year-old Etete resident Ndoda Micheal Mthiyane, who has been living in a dilapidated shack.

Mthiyane was one of 80 people who received a house from KZN human settlements MEC Ravi Pillay and KwaDukuza mayor Ricardo Mthembu.

There are still 1400 houses to be completed.

The housing project has been a site of contention and numerous protests over the last few years and is still far from being complete.

“I wish I had wings to fly around the world and express how happy I am for getting this house. I have been staying in a falling apart shack for years and when it rains at night, I would not be sleeping because water was getting into my house,” said Mthiyane.

He was promised by Pillay that the house would have electricity shortly.

“We are still finalising a few things but there will be light in your house very soon.

“I also want to thank the community for being patient with us as the project had to stop while we were seeking funding,” said Pillay.

Another person who received a house was Moypathie Jagganath (78) who spent about 30 years living in a mould-filled shack that was falling apart.

“For now we are prioritizing the older residents and those who are living in areas that affect the yield of the project and those living in houses in a bad condition. Going forward every time 30 houses are completed they will be handed over. Hopefully, the project will be done by December 2020,” said KwaDukuza municipality media liaison officer Sipho Mkhize.

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