July 06, 2004, 15:45
With the provincial government introducing low cost housing in rural villages of the Transkei, there will be no more mud houses and rondavalls at Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape.
The first multi-million rand housing project at Caguba village at Port St Johns was launched this afternoon. It has however been been received with mixed reactions.
Caguba is one of the oldest villages of Port St Johns. People are used to building their own homesteads, a pride of success and dignity. Now this is changing.
NoMamelika Dlamini, a 73-year-old widow, used to stay in a shack with three grand children. Today her life has changed. She said: "Life would have been difficult if I didn't have this house. I thank government I believe if it was not for the government, it would be difficult to build a house of my own."
The project is received with mixed feelings by the community, Zalemvula Fono, another Caguba resident said: "Our fears are that we will pay for water electricity and our livestock will have no grazing land."
However, the department prides itself with projects like these. Gugile Nkwinti, the MEC for local government, said: "Every South African should benefit from the low income group housing scheme."
One thousand of the 18 000 units have been built. Over R20 million rand has been set aside for this housing project.
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