Qolweni residents to move into homes next month

Update

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The housing woes of Bitou's Qolweni community will soon be something of the past as the first beneficiaries of its housing project will receive the keys to their new homes next month.

The R33,5-million project got off to a rocky start when residents turned to rioting to express their unhappiness with the slow progress.

While the project was funded by the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements, initially the completion was in the hands of the Bitou Municipality.

Following the unrest, the completion mandate was handed over to the department in June last year and construction began in September.

The project comprises the construction of 169 units. Plans are to complete the project over two phases, but all 169 beneficiaries have already been approved.

"I am delighted with the progress of this historic project," said Western Cape Human Settlements MEC Tertuis Simmers. "This development is the epitome of how swiftly housing opportunities can be delivered, when all stakeholders work towards the common goal of improving the lives of our people.

"This development is hugely significant and I want to applaud officials in my department and in the Bitou Municipality, but more so community members for their patience and perseverance, along with the contractor for hitting the ground running.

"There are many that can learn valuable lessons from what is transpiring in this area. As construction continues, my request to all stakeholders is to ensure that we don't allow elements to derail the progress, as this will only further delay what all of us are hoping to achieve."

Simmers also urged the community to be vigilant after one of the completed units was vandalised last week. "This past Friday, we received reports that there was a security breach at the Qolweni Phase 3A (169) housing project site, when one of the units was vandalised and a window frame stolen. A criminal case has since been opened with police," Simmers said.

"I condemn this criminal act in the strongest possible terms and welcome the criminal case that was opened with the police.

"We cannot allow any matter to derail the significant progress we're continuing to make with this project, particularly since residents have been patiently waiting to live in an improved and dignified manner. Some may view this as a minor incident, however any form of vandalism or theft can have an enormous impact on the completion of the project.

"These nefarious acts cannot be left unchecked. I urge the community to be vigilant and assist the law enforcement agencies in bringing these perpetrators to book and face the full might of the law."

Construction on the rest of the units will be started upon completion of the first phase at the end of April.

"As the Western Cape government, we remain committed to accelerating human settlement delivery, while promoting social inclusion through the development of integrated, resilient, safe and sustainable human settlements in an open opportunity society."

Bitou's Qolweni housing project is nearing completion and the first residents are expected to move into their new homes in April.