Human Settlements MMC Anthea Leitch was proud to launch the long-awaited allocations to RDP beneficiaries in South Hills, Ward 57, in Johannesburg this week.
She was joined by officials from her department, the developer, Calgro M3, and the first beneficiaries of 196 individuals who will now receive a state-sponsored home.
The beneficiaries were allocated on a first-come, first-served basis in line with the National Demand Database covering applicants from the years 1996 to 2000. All the beneficiaries were on the National Needs Register and Housing Subsidy System. The majority of beneficiaries are elderly.
These flats form part of the large South Hills development on land owned by the City of Johannesburg in a project that started with Standard Bank winning a tender in 2010 to develop the project that is envisioned to ultimately yield 7,381 residential units and related facilities.
The total number of RDP units should reach 1,691 at completion.
The MMC was moved at the reactions of the recipients today and expressed great joy that this project is continuing to change lives, following numerous delays in allowing beneficiaries to be allocated and to move in.
The MMC and her team will be assisting next week with helping her department to move further beneficiaries into their new homes, and to allow her to meet more of them.
At 83 years old, one of the beneficiaries, Mr Ncube, spoke to MMC Leitch about his journey from retirement at 65 to finally having his own home today. He has lived in Johannesburg since 1965 and used to work for Rand Merchant Bank. He has three children and four grandchildren.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Jacobs, first applied for an RDP in 1996. She told the MMC that she had prayed for a “sunny flat”, and was today given access to a corner unit with lots of sun. She used to work for Phillips Radio and has lived in the city since 1973. She said her son has already offered to tile her new home for her before she moves her furniture. She has one grandchild.
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