Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale http://www.dhs.gov.za/live/ recently launched the R300-million high-rise Masimong Community Housing Project in Welkom in the Free State. The project is being undertaken as a partnership between government and the private sector, a response to the minister’s call for more involvement in housing delivery from those outside government.
At the launch Sexwale was accompanied by the Free State MEC for Human Settlements, Sarah Mlamleli; executive mayor of Matjhabeng Municipality, Sebenzile Ngagelizwe; and chairman of Harmony Gold, Patrice Motsepe.
The minister said this project offers people and families homes and a base for their future.
“We have called for more partnerships and it is wonderful to see big corporates like Harmony Gold http://www.harmony.co.za/ coming to the party,” Sexwale said.
The Masimong development will deliver 461 community residential units, of which 110 have already been completed. It will include bachelor apartments as well as one- two- and three-bedroom units, providing affordable rental housing for the mine workers and their families and other residents of Masimong. It is in line with government’s drive to provide housing for people close to where they work.
Patrice Motsepe spoke of the partnership with government to build homes for South Africans. “No company or firm exists in a vacuum. We are all part of the bigger picture and if our people are not taken care of by us together with government, we will all sink. Business has no future if the workers do not have proper human settlements,” Motsepe said.
The Masimong development includes a recreational centre, a church, crèche, media centre, and a paraplegic workshop as well as banks and places where people can do their shopping. To date it has created more than 3 000 jobs. It is due for completion in November.
