DELIGHTED residents from Qaqawuli, in New Brighton, have expressed their satisfaction at the progress made by Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in building 390 homes, during a site visit led by Executive Mayor, Councillor Retief Odendaal ,on Thursday, November 3.
This comes after the city commenced with the project in June this year, having fully completed 30 homes to date, built 232 slabs, 209 wall plates, 122 roof tops, 75 ceiling and electrification units.
The mayor, joined by human settlements mayoral committee member, Councillor Tukela Zumani, had visited the area to assess the progress of the project ahead of a community meeting that will take place later on Thursday to address the growing safety concerns affecting NHBRC, NMBM and Eastern Cape Human Settlements officials, who are working on the site.
Addressing the residents, Odendaal said, “It’s a very joyous day today, to be able to see the excitement of our residents as some of them have already moved into their houses.
“The project is progressing well and we are confident we will complete the project during this financial year.
“We have seen workers on site and have heard from the beneficiaries and contractors on site that the working relations between the two is commendable. It is something we want to see happen in other areas as we move to build more homes for our residents.”
Zumani urged residents to take ownership of the project following reports of robbery of officials last week.
“We need you as residents to work with us to ensure the safety of these officials. This is your project. Should they be reluctant to come here, that will affect the project as payment certificates will be delivered late for payments.
“We are looking forward to the meeting we will have with you as the residents this evening so that we can come up with solutions and put an end to this problem while it is still starting,” Zumani said.
Housing beneficiary, Sithembele Ngxabani, said that as residents they were extremely grateful to finally see their houses under construction as they had been on the waiting list for some time.
“We are very happy today to see the mayor and his team. I am one of the beneficiaries; my house has been finished; I am just waiting for my keys now. The time has come for us too to get houses. We pray to God to protect everyone working on this project, for their safety. We don’t want them to lose their belongings because of criminals in our area,” said the resident.
– ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE NELSON MANDELA BAY MUNICIPALITY BY
COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA MANAGEMENT OFFICER, MAMELA NDAMASE
