Housing joy for Qolweni and Ebenezer

PLETTENBERG BAY – Western Cape Provincial Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers brought some welcome relief to the Ebenezer community in Plettenberg Bay on Wednesday 5 April when he announced the appointment of a new contractor for the housing project at a public meeting.

Earlier in the day, at another event, Simmers handed over 30 houses in Qolweni, the last houses in phase 1 of the project, bringing much joy to recipients.

Construction of the R71m Qolweni project began in August 2021 and has so far delivered 169 houses. In its 18 months of implementation, the Qolweni project created economic opportunities for 12 local small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).

Three SMMEs (one-woman contractors) have been upgraded to Level 2.

A further two of these have now qualified for a Level 2 upgrade.

Simmers said the Ebenezer housing project will be expedited, bringing to an end a wait of nearly 30 years for the community.

At the community meeting Simmers announced and introduced a newly appointed contractor for the Ebenezer project.

"Simply Do Construction company has been appointed to build phase 1 of the project earmarked to create 154 Breaking New Ground and 25 Help me Buy a Home houses," said Simmers. "Simply Do Construction company will deliver the entire 179 houses within the next 52 weeks."

He said it is expected that nearly 700 job opportunities will be created during this phase. For the 2023/24 fiscal year, an allocation of R57,8m has been set aside. This will be for the construction of top structures on portion 20 of the development, as well as the bulk services in portions 3 and 4 of the site.

Simmers said the developments were part of his vision of "building hope" through infrastructure projects across the Western Cape. To prove his point, Simmers officiated at a sod-turning ceremony at the Ebenezer site along with Bitou Mayor Dave Swart and Garden Route District Municipality Mayor Memory Booysen on Thursday 6 April.

"The sod-turning marks the beginning of construction that will benefit the community of Ebenezer, not only with houses, but also the creation of job opportunities," said Simmers. "This is a demonstrable reassurance of the Western Cape Government's commitment to building hope."

Zoleka Mwezlini (right) cutting the ribbon to her new house in Qolweni with Western Cape Provincial Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers.