Willow Park - The community of Willow Park, made up of abandoned farm workers, has started to see progress in the North West Department of Local Government and Housing's plans to build 60 emergency houses for them to occupy.
The department allocated R2.6 million towards building houses for the community after the SABC broadcasted a programme last year about the poor living conditions of farm workers in Willow Park near Zeerust last year.
During the programme, footage profiled the poor living conditions of the rural community who occupied 35 dilapidated one-roomed houses and the high rate of poverty and unemployment they faced.
On Monday, the SABC made a follow-up to ascertain what progress was made.
It was found that the department had begun construction and a few beneficiaries have already received their new homes.
Speaking during an interview on SABC 2's Morning Live on Monday, Departmental MEC Howard Yawa said the department had done assessments to ensure the environment was suitable for the people to live in.
"Geo-technical investigations had to be conducted prior the commencement of the project. This is a requisite before any project can start to check the type and condition of the soil to inform the type of foundations to be constructed," MEC Yawa said.
He added that the department appointed a turnkey developer to expedite the completion of the project by the end of March 2009.
"We are confident that the target for the completion of all 60 houses by that deadline is realisable," said the MEC.
An unemployed father who lives with his family of eleven, Samuel Matlakala, 46, received one of the first few houses to be completed.
He said he would live in the four-roomed, 45 square meter low cost house with his daughter, Lerato Matlakala, 26, who is also a mother of two.
His daughter said: "We now feel that we are part of the new South Africa. The one roomed mud houses that my family of eleven occupied since being dumped by our former employer on the farm in 1986 had robbed us of privacy and a decent shelter."
Another beneficiary and a mother of four children, Lebalang Botlholo, 57, said: "Now that a foundation for my house has been dug, I am confident that the commitment for housing that MEC Yawa made when he addressed our community on his visit to our area on the 14 August 2008 was not a bluff.
"I never thought that I would have a house of my own in my lifetime to make up for the years of suffering that we had to endure."
Meanwhile, the North West Department of Social Development is also keeping its promise to help improve the living conditions of the Willow Park community.
Departmental spokesperson, Mpumelelo Nhlapo told BuaNews that the department had worked full out to deliver services to the community which has been marred by social challenges.
"Due to a lack of necessary documents the community was previously unable to access government services and that perpetuated the ugly face of poverty."
Mr Nhlapo said six orphaned and vulnerable children have also benefited from the school uniform and food parcels distribution programme for 2008/ 2009 and seven have been identified for the 2009/ 2010 programme.
Four children are currently receiving foster care grants or disability grants
A further 36 households have benefited from the social relief programme since June last year. The department is hoping to establish a distribution centre to be able to assist more families. A total of 38 beneficiaries have received social relief of distress grants while awaiting Employment or approval of grants.
With regards to services for people affected by substance abuse, Mr Nhlapo said the Teenagers Against Drugs and Alcohol Abuse (TADA) had been established and awareness campaigns had been conducted.
