Update
PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Much joy and emotion were displayed in Qolweni in Plettenberg Bay on Monday as Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers handed over 36 houses out of a total of 139 to their new owners.
The proceedings took place amid some grumbling by certain community members, but it was explained to them that those on the list receiving their homes had been through the process to establish whether they qualified for the houses.
Simmers quickly defused the situation by admonishing hecklers: "Don't let divisions in leadership, driven by other agendas, stop progress," he told them.
"We're tired of people stopping us from doing our jobs. We are here to change the quality of life of people."
The handover took place on the eve of the one-year anniversary of Simmers' conducting a sod-turning in Qolweni.
Simmers began a pre-cabinet Garden Route outreach programme in Plettenberg Bay, where he was joined by Bitou Mayor Dave Swart to hand over the keys to 36 houses in the Qolweni Phase 3A (169) project, after the first batch of 30 were delivered in June.
The R33,5m project provides for 169 houses. This created opportunities for 12 small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) and 248 jobs were created.
"Tuesday 30 August will mark a year since we conducted a sod-turning and promised the community of Qolweni to deliver actual houses and end their wait for an opportunity," Simmers said. "I am delighted that we have achieved this and turned what was once hope into joy and reality for these community members."
Simmers then visited George where, together with the Garden Route District Municipality (GDRM), he launched the new Social Housing partnership with Own Haven Housing Association, a leader in providing social housing products in viable locations across the country.
He said this partnership amplifies the Western Cape government's intention of improving the lives of the residents by providing access into the homeownership market, through affordable housing products. Simmers then visited a site earmarked for social housing projects.
He ended his Garden Route visit in Mossel Bay where he discussed infrastructure, including roads and human settlements, with the municipality.
READ MORE: Their own homes after many years
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