Promise to change for the better

SEBOKENG. – Despite having not mentioned any development on the Boiketlong informal settlement, Gauteng premier David Makhura – during his State of the Province Address (Sopa) – praised MEC Paul Mashatile’s deployment as showing confidence in the bringing of better coordination between municipalities and fast-tracking of mega human settlements and post-apartheid cities.

Mashatile was deployed as MEC for Human Settlements, taking over from Jacob Mamabolo.

When approached for comment after the Sopa at the Saul Tsotetsi Sports Centre recently, Mashatile referred all questions to his office.

He told Ster that he is new to the office: “I still had to go through the previous document handed over from Mamabolo. I would like to encourage the community out there to rest assured that the government will do all in its power to bring better changes.”
Leadership Committee organiser Dan Mofokeng (Boiketlong) said he saw the area’s profile in the documents. “I still have to study the documents and to take it from there,” said Mashatile.

Boiketlong is one area the community believes has been neglected. To date people have seen construction on the go, but only in the form of erecting pins on the ground to map the stands for houses.

Showing the entire map of Boiketlong, Dan said there would be four primary and one secondary school built with five church sites and two public garages.

He said Executive Emfuleni Mayor Councillor Mahole Mofokeng has indicated that the number of community members in Boiketlong is less than the number of houses to be built. The houses include low-cost houses, flats and RDPs.

The office of the mayor communicates with the residents to update them on the new development. Dan said there are two building constructions, namely Set Square and Inkanyeli.
Already Set Square had started at old Boiketlong. Inkanyeli started at the beginning of this week behind Boiketlong Christian Primary School.