Women in construction ready to build 60 houses for the poorest of the poor
WOMEN'S Build, in partnership with the South African Women in Construction (SAWIC), the department of human settlements and other stakeholders, will build 60 housing units at Ga-Hlako and Taueatsoala in the Mogalakwena, Waterberg area as a tribute to women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956.
FOLLOW – WOMEN’S Build, in partnership with the South African Women in Construction (SAWIC), the department of human settlements and other stakeholders, will build 60 housing units at Ga-Hlako and Taueatsoala in the Mogalakwena, Waterberg area as a tribute to women who marched to the Union Buildings in 1956.
Women’s Build is a project that entails the construction of housing units for vulnerable and marginalised women’s groups including the elderly, women with disabilities and women caring for orphans and other vulnerable children.
Women’s Build also wants to address challenges related to access to credit and markets and lack of skills. The project is hosted annually in one or more provinces to commemorate Women’s Month and the houses are built through sponsorships.
The houses will be built under the theme ‘Moving Women’s Economic Transformation Forward’ and will be built by the SAWIC members.
Addressing those present at a stakeholder gala dinner in Polokwane last Wednesday, human settlements MEC, Makoma Makhurupetje, said the houses would have two bedrooms and a kitchen, dining room and bathroom.
“We are also honouring the late public works minister, Stella Sigcau, in the establishment of the SAWIC, the mandate of which is to advocate for women in the building environment to participate fully in the main stream economy of South Africa.
“It is also aimed at the empowerment of emerging women contractors in the housing sector,” she explained.
“Over 3,3 million opportunities were created through the government subsidised housing programme.
“Through the struggles that women have waged against the oppressive regime and which they continued to take part in over the years, it is now time that they participate fully in the development of human settlement to stimulate the economic growth of the country at large.
“In the last and current financial year, Limpopo has allocated 5 900 housing projects to 12 women-owned construction companies, which culminate in a total of just over R507 million,” she said.
SAWIC national acting president, Mpumi Pakade, said they were ready to start construction for the benefit of the vulnerable and poor women in the rural areas.
Mogalakwena mayor, Parks Sebatjane, thanked members of SAWIC and the department for starting with the poorest of the poor in Hloka village and Taueatsoala.
