Deserving Beneficiaries Receive Homes in Struisbaai, Cape Agulhas

On Tuesday 2 July 2014, 14 beneficiaries of the Struisbaai Community became proud owners of their new homes, at a handover ceremony lead by the Deputy Mayor of Cape Agulhas Municipality, Mr Dirk Jantjies. The project, on which construction began in November 2013, has a budget of approximately R12.8 million and is set to deliver 111 houses when complete by the end of July 2014.

The department has a strategic focus to provide a range of housing opportunities and delivers over 16 different programs. All the beneficiaries of Struisbaai qualified for a fully subsidised house, having met the criteria of earning less than R3 500 per month, being a South African citizen, and being first time home owners. The Cape Agulhas municipality is responsible for making sure that potential beneficiaries have registered on their housing list, and for fairly and transparently allocating housing opportunities.  Anyone who requires housing assistance must make sure they are registered with the Municipality, in order to be considered.

The department works closely with municipalities in the provision of housing opportunities. The municipality is allocated a set amount of funding per year, which is determined by the National Department of Human Settlements. The municipality will submit housing plans to the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements, and once the Department is satisfied that the plans meet the necessary technical requirements, will release the funding to the municipality. The municipality is responsible for appointing and managing the contractors who build the houses, while the Department maintains an oversight role. The Department also pays an amount to the NHBRC (National Home Builders Registration Council) to ensure that the quality of the houses is guaranteed, so that people can receive houses they are proud of and which will be an asset.

Once the homes have been transferred to the beneficiaries, it is the beneficiaries’ responsibility to maintain and care for their new homes so that they can grow in value as an asset. Some of the required maintenance may be

• Painting of small plaster cracks
• Changing of broken windows
• Making sure a window is open when using hot water or cooking so mould doesn’t form on the ceilings.

The Department wishes all the beneficiaries many years of happiness in their new homes.