Cape Town - For seventy-five-year-old Nomonde Jacobs, who has lived almost all her life as a backyard shack dweller, receiving the keys to her new home was a dream come true.
After months of uncertainty and delays, Jacobs was among 23 Erf 8448 beneficiaries who were overjoyed on Monday as they finally received a place they can call their own.
The initiative, known as the Gugulethu infill housing project, stretches over two sites in Gugulethu and Mau Mau in Nyanga, and has been plagued by various challenges since it started in 2016.
According to the grandmother, initially the handover was expected in December 2021 but was moved to February this year, but that date also did not materialise.
“I have been waiting for a house for more than two decades. All these years I have been renting. First I was in Langa, and then I moved here. People kept on asking why I don’t have a house at this age. Last year we made all preparations and were excited to move, but we were told there were delays relating to money.
“Early this year when we were informed again that we were moving, and didn’t, my hopes started fading. It was worse when I fell sick and became wheelchair-bound. I prayed hard that I did not pass away without stepping inside my house or even holding the keys to it. This is truly a dream come true for me,” said Jacobs.
Her daughter, Yonela Jacobs, 35, said it always broke her heart seeing her mother without a home.
“Today we are happy and in disbelief. The houses are yet to be electrified. As soon as they are, we can move in. She will be staying with me and my child. A family friend will be sleeping there at night for safety reasons, because we were warned about houses are being hijacked and other people illegally occupying them.”
The housing project has seen numerous delays, with beneficiaries taking to the streets in 2020 to protest against the long wait.
Mayco member for human settlements Malusi Booi said Erf 8448 will provide 570 homes to qualifying beneficiaries and the total cost of this portion of the project is R105 million.
“This project is making good progress. We are doing all we can to ensure the project is protected so that the remaining beneficiaries can move into their homes as soon as possible. Security and the threat of unlawful occupations are two major challenges on Erf 8448. To address security and the threat of unlawful occupations the City has appointed additional security.”
Booi said the Mau Mau housing project, which makes up the second portion of the Gugulethu infill project, was also making steady progress, with 434 homes in the pipeline.
“The entire project will provide 1 004 units to beneficiaries.”
Cape Times