PREMIER'S ADDRESS

Mr Program Director
The Honourable Minister of Housing, Minister Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele
The Honourable MEC for Housing and Land Administration, Mr David Mabuza
His worship the Mayor of Secunda, Councillor Mandla Khayiyane
The CEO of Thubelisha Homes Mr Kevin Duncan
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

Abakwa-Mnintyane, baga-Chuene nani bakwa Mokoena, namuhla usuku lwenu.

Yingakho ngingafuni ukulumosha lolusuku ngokukhuluma ngibemude. Lohulumeni wethu nguHulumeni wezenzo.

Ngiyanibona nimoyizela ngenxa yenjabulo yokuthi, hayi, lohulumeni enamkhetha ngonyaka odlule, kanti enizomkhetha futhi kulonyaka okhethweni lomasipala, uyazigcina izethembiso.

Ngiyamuzwa noMaMkhize esho ngezwi elinenjabulo ethi: "Siyabonga wena Ngqongqoshe MaMthembi-Mahanyele nawe Thubelisha Homes.

"Sesiyakwazi ukulala obehlayo."

Programme director, It always gives us great pleasure to officiate at the opening of housing projects around the country. But today, we are particularly pleased to be here with you to participate in the launch of the hand-over of the Thubelisha Homes, a joint venture with the public sector.

Today is an indication that when President Thabo Mbeki, commanded us to get back to work for a better life, we listened.

That command, you will remember, came shortly after you and thousands of our people, in their millions and without hesitation, renewed the mandate of the ANC to govern our country.

It was on June 2 when you said you trusted the ANC to help them out of their conditions of misery. When the women of Mbalenhle, our province and our country mandated us to continue with the struggle for their upliftment and emancipation.

Our people, both black and white, mandated us to remain firm in the pursuit of our vision of a non-racial society and the important goal of national reconciliation.

Concluding his remarks at that historic occasion the President said the time has now come that we go back to work! And back to work we went. These are the fruits of that labour.

Today we are able to say to the people of Thubelisha, the faith and confidence you placed in us on June 2 was not misplaced. But let me hasten to say that a lot still needs to be done.

We are on the brink of a new beginning with a chance to build on our previous successes and begin to launch shelter provision in a much more integrated manner. As we hand over these units, let us pledge that we shall not rest until all our people have a roof over their heads.

I am told that another ninety-eight units are due for handing over before the end of October. Surely this is a real achievement and good service delivery to our people. You have escaped the blacklisting by financial institutions. Today you owe no cent to no one.

As government we believe that our co-operation with Thubelisha should be an inspiration to the business community and the private sector to join hands in fighting homelessness and poverty.

Together, let us accelerate change for a better life for all.

I believe, like you do, that our leaders such as the late Oliver Tambo and the late Joe Slovo will find peace wherever they are. Find peace in the knowledge that the struggle they waged was not in vain.

Today is a big day for all of us, especially for the people of Embalenhle. We have come here to witness one of the many things brought to the people since the birth of our democracy.

Our hearts and souls always rejoice during such occasions because we gradually see our dream come a reality. We see change happening in the lives of our people.

We are particularly pleased today that our joint venture with Thubelisha is yielding fruits at this early age of what is clearly a wonderful project.

Thubelisha Homes was established two years ago. It's objective is to assist home owners to normalise their housing environment through a process called "rightsizing".

Of course, this is a new concept in our lives. Sometimes it is difficult to come to terms with this new situation.

Many of our people fell victim to job losses or retrenchments. With that comes a loss of income and the inability to continue paying one's bond.

Some are victims of unfair dismissals by their employers; some victims of closures of companies or plants. Our people therefore become victims of evictions by the Building Societies and Banking Institutions.

As government we could not afford a situation where our people are exposed to the elements and to poverty. Because of that we went into partnership with the private sector in providing a roof over the heads of our people.

The rightsizing process will allow our communities to balance their new financial status and their needs. Our people must be afforded decent housing.

For many years our people were subjected to abject poverty living in shacks. Millions of families cannot feed themselves because they have no jobs, no lands.

As government we will take reasonable measures, within our available resources, to ensure that every South African has access to adequate housing.

Today, about one hundred and twenty families have benefited from this project.

Ladies and gentlemen, we did that because on June 2 last year you directed us to move forward faster with our programme for reconstruction and development so that the goal of a better life for all is achieved.

Sooner rather than later.

We were fully conscious of the fact that the magnificent patience of our people was in part, driven by their knowledge that, consistent with its traditions, an ANC-led government would approach the exercise of power without any arrogance.

We knew then, as we know now, that you trusted that with humility and with a deep sense of responsibility we will together ensure that we act together to build a South Africa which truly belongs to all who live in it, black and white.

And believe me when I say we shall not rest until all our people are properly housed. We are building a future not only for ourselves but also for those who come after us.

Let me take this opportunity to express our heartfelt thanks to Mr Kevin Duncan, CEO of Thubelisha Homes and his team for a successful and well-managed initiative.

Asibashayeleni ihlombe. A big hand for them.

We hope the next invitation from Thubelisha will be taking us to another part of the Province.

I thank you all.