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MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ATT: REPORTERS, ASSIGNMENT EDITORS

07 August 2020

ELDERLY WOMAN AMONG 40 HOMELESS TO RECEIVE HOUSES IN PELLSRUS

Jeffreys Bay ——– A 72-year-old woman from Jeffrey’s Bay, in the Kouga LM, is among the 40 homeless families who will receive new houses from Human Settlements MEC, Ms Nonkqubela Pieters, on Monday,10 August 2020. The dignity of the destitute families will be restored when they are provided with a safe environment, basic services and access to economic opportunities.

One of MEC Pieters’ priorities is to protect those who are destitute and vulnerable, including the elderly, disabled and child-headed families, by providing them with decent quality homes, especially during this time of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Pellsrus beneficiaries have been living under poor conditions, many with no shelter of their own, forcing them to live with relatives or community members. 72-Year-old Arjana Williams, who until now, has had no shelter of her own and has been living with relatives together with her daughter and 2 grandchildren. Houses are usually handed over without furniture provided, however, the elderly Williams will receive some furniture, donated by Ikhaya Development Trust, given her most vulnerable and needy condition.

The other beneficiary is 60-year-old Ann Kees who lives with her husband in a timber structure in the backyard of a community member in Pellsrus. She and her 60-year-old husband have no income and rely on the help of family, friends and the community. 50-year-old Renyl Witbooi will also be among those provided with decent home. She currently lives with her niece who is under her care, in her brother’s two-roomed house together with his family.

They all benefited from the Department’s Pellsrus 220 Housing project which entails the provision of services and construction of 220 houses. The budget set for the entire project is R35,6 million. A total of 170 houses have been completed in the project thus far with some beneficiaries already moved in.

The 40m² sized houses are all ready for occupation and include, two bedrooms, an equipped bathroom and an open plan lounge and kitchen area. The houses are plastered and painted both on the inside and the outside, fitted with electrical plugs and lights. Other finishes include a roman tiled roof, an insulated 6.3mm thick ceiling and a bathroom with a flush toilet, bath-tub and a handwash basin.

Members of the media are invited to the handover, to be held as follows;

DATE:          Monday, 10 August 2020

VENUE:        Pellsrus, Jeffreys Bay

TIME:            10H00

For enquiries contact;

Ministry of Eastern Cape Human Settlements

Enquiries: Spokesperson Masiza Mazizi

Cell: 066 010 4865 or 076 804 4292

Facebook: EC Human Settlements News Channel