Premier Mabuza commits to build houses for 32 impoverished families in Gert Sibande District

18 September 2012

Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza has committed to build houses for 32 impoverished families in Leandra, Kinross, Embalenhle and in Bethal.

Premier Mabuza identified the destitute beneficiaries yesterday [Monday, 17 September 2012] with the help of the management of the regional bus company, MEGABUS, which does its business in the areas.

Most of the beneficiaries currently live in dilapidating mud houses and rusty shacks, and have no source of income. They are mostly women, child-headed families and some had been disadvantaged by the processes of getting government houses.

Identifying the beneficiaries, Premier Mabuza said he was mobilising the “good Samaritans” to assist especially with the houses as the situation of many people was dire and government processes of getting houses were too long.

“I remember the last time we helped an elderly woman in Witbank, I was so touched by her plight. Her situation was so desperate that I could not wait but to ask some good people to assist by building a house for her.
“I was so scared that the lady would die on the waiting list for a government house, I wanted to build a house for her before she dies. We have saved one life, and that one life saved, shows we were serious when we said we are a caring society.
“It is in our favour as South Africans to take care of our people, and assist them where we can. The people who are very important are those who cannot help themselves.

It is unbelievable that 18 years into democracy there are people who do not have food and shelter. It means we are working at a slow pace as government,” said the Premier.

The Premier explained that he invited MEGABUS management to “show them the other side of a coin” in an effort to encourage them to give back to the community they did business in.

A Mbalenhle learner whose both parents died and their house burnt down did not believe her eyes when a MEGABUS Managing Director Nico Boshhoff committed to give her a laptop on top of the house.

Boshoff said he was impressed by her dedication to school regarding her situation as she was staying with the neighbours.“We are honoured to partner with the Premier in this; it is really a great pleasure to give back to the community in this fashion. We are working in this area, it is necessary to invest here,” said Boshoff. 

Some of the beneficiaries were identified in Blinkwater farm outside Bethal whose owners agreed that the Premier build houses for their workers.

All 32 houses are expected to be completed within four weeks and be officialy handed over by Premier Mabuza to the beneficiaries.

Issued by Zibonele Mncwango
Spokesperson: Mpumalanga Premier
Tel: (013) 766 – 2453
Mobile: 079 491 0163
E-mail: zmncwango@mpg.gov.za