The Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements today, 21 November 2024,
handed over 75 houses to families who were previously farm dwellers in Gasela near
Stutterheim in the Amahlathi Local Municipality. The majority of beneficiaries are lowincome earners and some are unemployed. They have been prioritised as destitutes
living in desperate conditions.
The families are now proud owners of new homes. They include the child headed
Nyokana family, comprised of four siblings – the eldest being Anesipho Nyokana (21
years). They lost their parents in 2021. Two of the younger siblings are staying with
relatives while the others were staying with neighbours. “Today I’m very happy
because we now have a home, after our parents died we had to split as a family and
stay with our relatives, but now we have been given this house so we can rebuild our
family and be together,” said Anesipho Nyokana.
The Department prioritises the destitute elderly, disabled, child headed families and
military veterans in the provision of decent quality houses. “This project has restored
the dignity of the families here in Gasela, as a department we have managed to build
75 houses with a budget of R13,7 million,” said Dr Bongiwe Gobe, Chief Director at
Human Settlements.
At the handover, Cllr Nomakhosazana Nongqayi, the Mayor of Amahlathi Local
Municipality, said, “The Nyokana family is one of those destitute families who have
been prioritised by government as a child headed family, they did not have a place to
stay after their parents passed away. We are proud of this initiative by the Human
Settlements Department.”
The beneficiaries received a lifeline through a human settlements project, Gasela 75,
for the construction of 75 houses in the provision of secure and affordable housing for
the vulnerable families.