Human Settlements Department Shines at Govan Mbeki National Awards Ceremony

The Western Cape Department of Human Settlements won two first prizes and three runners-up prizes at the recent National Govan Mbeki awards ceremony for human settlements delivery. The event was held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Gauteng on the evening of Thursday, 14 August 2014.

Various dignitaries, including the national Minister of Human Settlements, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu, the national Deputy Minister of Human Settlements, Mrs Zoe Kota Fredericks, and the Western Cape Minister of Human Settlements, Mr Bonginkosi Madikizela, handed out awards to the winners.

The Western Cape took first prize in the following two categories:

1. The Best Women Contractor was Gladys Mokoena of Masiqame Trading CC.
2. The Best Upgrading of Informal Settlements Project (UISP) was awarded to the Thembalethu Housing Development in George.
    

The Western Cape further secured runners-up prizes in three categories, namely:

1. The Best Social Housing Project for its Steenberg Steenvilla Complex in Retreat, Cape Town.
2. The Best Metropolitan Municipality for which the City of Cape Town took the honours.
3. The Best National Priority Project for the Drommedaris project in Paarl, Drakenstein.
    

“The Department extends its heartfelt congratulations to the winners and wishes them well in this remarkable achievement.  We look forward to building relations and partnerships with those concerned. We would also like to ensure the combined efforts of all in yielding a successful delivery of integrated human settlements to our communities", said Minister Madikizela.

Minister Madikizela also commented on the Western Cape winning the award for the Best Women Contractor; “This is a wonderful way to celebrate the National Women’s Month. We are very proud of Gladys Mokoena and we wish her all the best in the in this male-dominated industry”.

The purpose of the Govan Mbeki Awards is to promote and inculcate a culture of excellence within the Human Settlements sector in the delivery of quality Human Settlements. Human Settlements plays an important role in redressing some of the imbalances of apartheid spatial development, and providing dignity and land ownership to many South African citizens.

In addressing these patterns of spatial development, the awards takes into account the unique needs and potential of different rural and urban areas in the context of emerging development corridors in the Southern African sub-region.