Western Cape Minister of Human Settlements, Tertuis Simmers says, with 43 deserving and qualifying beneficiaries moving into their brand new homes in the Forest Village Housing Development in Eersteriver, on Thursday, 4 and Tuesday 9 February 2021, the Western Cape Government (WCG) is once again demonstrating that it is wholly committed to improving the lives of the most vulnerable in our society.
Over these two days, all those who benefitted from this Catalytic project are from neighbouring communities. To date, a total of 2537 units have already been handed over. This comprises of 579 for N2 Gateway beneficiaries, 474 from the Southern Corridor, 144 Priority Cases and 1340 locals, which includes Eersteriver, Eersteriver South, Electric City, Faure, Dreamworld, Blue Downs, Malibu Village, Kleinvlei, Rosedale, Mfuleni and Fairdale.
Minister Simmer said: “Our entire focus as Government is to make a life changing difference in the lives of our people who require it most. This is why we’re particularly focused on assisting the elderly, persons with disabilities, those that have been on the Housing Demand Database (HDD) for 15 years and longer as well as our backyard dwellers.
By assisting our people in this manner, we’re ensuring that they have a dignified roof over their heads, a safe place they can call their own home and in addition to this we’re also ensuring true integration, as people from different backgrounds, cultures and languages are being brought together to form a brand new community.”
Sharon Burger from Eersteriver who was overjoyed upon receiving her home, said: “This is unbelievable. I am grateful. Living in people’s backyard is not nice at all and having been on the waiting list for 19 years it feels unreal to be standing in my own home. This is dignity. I can only say thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Simmers added: “I call on our beneficiaries to value the asset which they receive and take care of it. We encourage citizens to draft a will, so that they leave a legacy for their children.
They should also not consider renting or selling the property, as doing so would suggest that they never had a housing need to start with. It is important to note that should a beneficiary wish to sell the property within the first 8 years after receiving the property, compelling reasons for the sale would be required, permission from the State is needed, while Government should be given the first opportunity.”
Forest Village is one of the Department’s Catalytic Projects, which commenced in January 2016 and has a budget allocation of R1.1billion. This mixed-use development consists of various types of units to cater for beneficiaries of different income levels and specific needs such as Military Veterans, Breaking New Ground (BNG) and Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP) units.
“As the Western Cape Government, we remain committed to accelerating human settlement delivery, while promoting social inclusion through the development of integrated, resilient, safe and sustainable human settlements in an open opportunity society,” concluded Minister Simmers.
