CHRISTMAS came early for some Masinenge community members who received their long-awaited, newly-built homes recently.
Their 40 square metre, double storey, apartment style units were handed over to them by KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Human Settlements, Ravi Pillay and Hibiscus Coast Municipality deputy mayor Johnny de Wet on Thursday last week.
Community members have waited for months to move into their new houses, due to delays in the installation of water and sanitation.
Twenty-six of the recently completed 300 units were officially handed over to beneficiaries, who were ecstatic to move into their new homes. Zamekile Mpisi, who was the first person to receive his house, said: “I’m very happy, finally I can move in to my new home, words are not enough to describe how happy I am.”
The project dubbed ‘Masinenge Golf Estate’ comprising a total of 882 units, cost a total of R155-million. Hibiscus Coast Municipality spokesman, Simon April said that the project seeks to address problems of informal settlements, found in most of the province’s municipalities, due to rapid growth in urbanisation, with Hibiscus Coast being one of them.
He further stated that the slum clearance housing project has included the upgrading of gravel roads and water reticulation for the houses. All the double storey units have waterborne ablution facilities.
Hibiscus Coast Municipality has also launched another massive housing project in Mvutshini, under the KwaXolo Traditional Authority on the South Coast.
Phase two of the KwaXolo Rural Housing Project is set to benefit 1 000 people. The project will cost R133-million.
