Better Houses to be built in Tshepong

Gauteng MEC for Housing, Ms Nomvula Mokonyane commended a good job well done by a Woman construction company, Tshwaranag Basadi Construction Company, for donating two show houses to a pensioner and a disabled beneficiary in Tshepong, an informal settlement in Sedibeng.

At the official handing over of the two houses the MEC who was also acting as the Premier of Gauteng, said women companies such as Tshwarang Basadi should be commended. “This company build the houses from their own pockets. The government didn't help them.”

Addressing the community members at this function organized by Tshwaranang Basadi Construction Company, a company formed two years ago by Patricia Gumbi, she added that: “today we have seen daughters of the soil taking the leap in ensuring that are our people are housed in decent houses”.

“The reason I'm here I want my name to bear witness to this project”, added Ms Mokonyane. Further, the MEC said the department was prepared to work with the nation in ensuring that people, particularly those who qualify are housed in decent and safe lands.

“People must be able to get help from us as well as the banking sector. We also need to uplift our women in our province. And those who are capable of doing the work will be given projects.”

Ms Mokonyane said they need to level the playing fields in the construction sector so that women don't have compete with those who are long in the game.

As part of empowering women within the sector, the department has identified 10 Women construction companies at least one per district for development. This will ensure that at the end of the next three tears these should be able to compete in their own right with established developers.

These companies will be given work to the values of R200 million per annum and support systems will be provided for mentoring and coaching through the department's professional teams.

As the money has been allocated for the top structures in Tshepong, construction is expected soon on the 963 stands, the MEC said. But priority will be given to senior citizens, disabled, those infected with HIV/Aids including those orphaned by this pandemic.

However, she said the department will not be prioritising those who benefited from RDP houses before but eventually sold them. “We need to consider people who have been on the waiting list since 1996-1997, so that those who never benefited should be afforded an opportunity to own houses.”

Those who sold their houses, the MEC said the only option available to them was the rental accommodation.