On Tuesday, 1 March 2022, the Western Cape Minister of Human Settlement, Tertuis Simmers, and Executive Mayor of the Overstrand Municipality, Dr. Annelie Rabie, handed over the keys to 31 proud new home owners of the Swartdam Road site C1 Housing Project in Hermanus.
This Swartdam Road site C1 Housing Project, which forms part of the Integrated Residential Development Programme (IRDP), will yield 150 top structures. Construction commenced in February 2021 with an allocated budget of just over R20 mil. Full completion of the project is expected withing the next few weeks.
On delivering her speech, Overstrand Mayor Annelie Rabie thanked the community – especially those who have been on the waiting list for more than 16 years – for waiting their turn in allowing the Western Cape Housing Department to successfully deliver the housing project.
Mayor Rabie emphasised the importance of having a testament. She said having a will is essential for ensuring that your assets go to the people you want them to. She invited the beneficiaries to visit her office should they need help drawing up the necessary documentation.
She urged home owners to make time to beautify their homes and to take pride in their homes and neighbourhood and to please report people who vandalise the houses to their councillors so that we can deal with people who break-in and steal.
In his keynote address, Minister Simmers said: “Handing over these units to residents who have been waiting for between 16 and 23 years brought me immense joy. These are the beneficiaries whom we prioritise, as they’ve been patiently waiting for more than 15 years. I’m pleased that I could assist in ensuring that they now live in a safer, improved and dignified manner.”
Mr Abe Goniwe (62) who has been on the housing waiting list for 21 years was and whose wife has passed on said: “Today is bittersweet for me as I wish my wife could be here to share in this wonderful moment. I do miss my wife dearly. I am happy and grateful as this means the world to me. I’ve waited very long, but now I finally have my home, and I would like to thank the Minister and the Western Cape Government for giving this home. My wish is that they do the same for others.”
While addressing the residents, Minister Simmers further said: “I call on all community members to not allow themselves to be misled by scrupulous characters who is seeking to fraudulently access housing opportunities and making promises that they will assist community members to obtain a house. This is completely false. As a starting point you have to register your housing need at your local municipality and follow due process before you will be assisted. Community members should also report those who are engaging in these fraudulent activities to their municipality, so that they may face the full might of the law.
As the Western Cape Government, we remain committed to accelerating human settlements delivery, while promoting social inclusion through the development of integrated, resilient, safe and sustainable human settlements in an open opportunity society.”