Minister Madikizela to Attend Housing Handover in Paarl | Western Cape Government

News

News

Minister Madikizela to Attend Housing Handover in Paarl

23 April 2012

The Western Cape Government Minister of Human Settlements, Bonginkosi Madikizela, will hand over houses in the Drommedaris Project, Paarl, on Tuesday, 24 April 2012. Included in the beneficiaries will be 102-year-old Mr Seleku James Xontana.

Mr Xontana came to Paarl in 1940 and stayed in the Klippiesdal area of Paarl. He worked for a Civil Engineering Contractor who was involved in the construction of Drakenstein Mountain Tunnel. He worked as a contract worker for SASKO in 1949 and stayed at the Mbekweni hostel B85 until he was retrenched.

Mr Xontana worked for another six years until retirement. Thereafter, he stayed at the Mbekweni Hostel until his place was allocated to another resident by the hostel committee, and he was then forced to squat in the backyard of relatives. According to waiting list records, he applied in 1992 for a house.

The Drommedaris Project is divided into two sections consisting of 181 and 1 047 units respectively. The project was designed to accommodate beneficiaries who reside along the railway station, hostel dwellers and some backyarders. The construction started in December 2011 and, to date, 211 houses have been completed.

The project exhibits different types of units, including semi-detached, high-density and free-standing units. A total of 171 houses have been completed in the 181-unit section, and 53 have been completed in the 1 047-unit section. The 181-unit section has a budget of R13 million, of which R10 million has been spent. The 1 047-unit project has a budget of R101.4 million, of which R11.3 million has been spent.

On 4 and 18 April 2012, 40 houses were handed over to the adult beneficiaries. A total of 13 beneficiaries will receive their houses on 24 April 2012 from Minister Madikizela and Drakenstein Mayor Geysie Van Deventer.

Media Enquiries: 

Bruce Oom
Spokesperson
Cell: 072 465 5177
Tel: 021 483 6622
E-mail: Bruce.Oom@pgwc.gov.za