Thedignity of 39 destitute and vulnerable families, who had been staying in an informal settlement, has been restored when Eastern Cape Human Settlements MEC, Siphokazi Lusithi handed them keys to their new houses in Doornhoek, Kariega today, 25 October 2024. All beneficiaries form part of a recently completed human settlements project in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro.
The beneficiaries include a 78-year-old grandmother Maria Jacobs, a widow who was living under poor conditions in a shack before the relocation to Doornhoek. ” I am so grateful to get this house from human settlements, life was not easy in the shack, thank you to Department of Human Settlements,” said mama Jacobs. She is living with one of her two daughters and two grandchildren.
All 39 families benefitted from Doorenhoek 40 Housing Project, a human settlements project in Kariega. where 40 destitute families were relocated to Doornhoek for decent quality houses. The Department is working in collaboration with the Metro for the servicing of the sites on the project.
“As a department we are in the Doornhoek area to deliver 39 houses where we are prioritising the elderly, people living with disabilities and child headed households. This was one of our recently unblocked projects to ensure we are prioritising the most vulnerable in our society,” said MEC Lusithi.
The MEC also planted a tree at Mrs Jacobs’ new house in partnership with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. This is an ongoing programme of planting trees at human settlements projects which is expected to improve air quality, enhance biodiversity, increase food security, and empower communities through skills development and job creation.
The programme will reach 1000 households in Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan this financial year, where indigenous and fruit trees will be planted.