MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ATT: REPORTERS, ASSIGNMENT EDITORS
14 May 2020
PSJ child headed families, elderly to receive new houses
Mthatha ——– The MEC of Human Settlements, Ms. Nonkqubela Pieters together with Port St Johns Local Municipality Mayor, Cllr. Nomvuzo Cingo, will handover new houses to 4 destitute families that are child headed and the elderly in PSJ, OR Tambo District Municipality, on Saturday, 16 May 2020. This forms part of the Department’s efforts to protect the most vulnerable during Covid19 pandemic and beyond.
The Department prioritises the elderly, disabled, child headed families and military veterans, by restoring their dignity through the provision of decent quality houses. The beneficiaries were victims of a disaster, when heavy rains destroyed over 1000 homes in Or Tambo, including PSJ in 2013. In assisting the affected families, the Department approved and implemented the Port St Johns 362 and 256 Destitute Housing Projects spreading over 20 wards. A total of 22 houses has been completed thus far. All 22 families will take occupancy of their completed houses on 16 May 2020.
28-Year-old Bongiswa Mda is one of the beneficiaries to receive her house in Qhaka village on Saturday. She is living in a poor mud structure with 3 family members and dependent on relatives for their livelihood. The other family to receive a house in Qhaka village are the dependents of 40-year-old Zwelakhe Mda. The father of 3 sadly passed away, leaving a legacy to his children, who are currently staying with relatives. One of the elderly beneficiaries is 73-year-old Mavis Ndabeni, who currently lives in a dilapidated mud structure with 3 family members. The other beneficiary set to receive her house from the MEC is 72-year-old Ndabeni Ntlokibomvu, currently living under poor conditions in Ngxongweni village.
Members of the media are invited to the handover, to be held as follows;
DATE: SATURDAY, 16 MAY 2020
VENUE: QHAKA VILLAGE, PORT ST JOHNS
TIME: 10H00
ISSUED BY: Ministry of Eastern Cape Human Settlements
Enquiries: Spokesperson Masiza Mazizi
Cell: 066 010 4865/ 076 804 4292
Facebook: EC Human Settlements News Channel