LOUIS TRICHARDT –

According to Mr Luruli, on August 29th, the institute, in conjunction with the Department of Local Government and Housing of the Limpopo Province hosted a Housing Seminar and presented Provincial Housing Awards to deserving candidates at Meropa Casino, in Polokwane. Mantombi Mapanzela was rewarded for being Housing person of the year, Masonga and Kgapola Company was named the Housing Developer of the year while the Makhado Municipality was rewarded for being the Housing Local Authority of the year. Luruli pointed out that the annual National Housing Awards will be held in East London next week, and the Makhado Municipality would represent the Limpopo Province.

"Makhado Municipality has been nominated as the best Provincial Municipality with the following points considered: Its demonstration on approach to Housing Development, the display of a high level of commitment and dedication and finally that the municipality was also responsible in terms of housing development within its area of jurisdiction," Luruli said. He however added that other Municipalities must learn from the pace that have been set by the Makhado Municipality, so that they could also become winners in the coming years.

In addition, Luruli also stated that the Makhado Municipality have impressed the Institute of Housing of South Africa to the extent that the municipality now stands a big chance of being awarded with many RDP houses in the next financial years. "As part of becoming provincial winners, Makhado Municipality will compete with other Local Authorities from other provinces in the National Awards and as a Province we are hopeful that Makhado will do extremely well in the competition," he said.

In his statement, the Mayor of the Makhado Municipality, Cllr Brighton Tlakula revealed that in the financial years 2001/2002 and 2003 the Department of Local Government and Housing awarded the Municipality with 2 000 houses. He mentioned that the Municipality has completed the Tiyane, Tshivhuhani, Malonga, Davhana and the Mabidi projects. The Mayor also claimed that more houses are still going to be built for the needy, adding that housing projects, which would be economically boosting will also be constructed.

He also added that unauthorised people who occupied the RDP houses are being removed and further stated that this process would be completed soon. He also warned that, developers who did not finish their projects would be dealt with by the IHSA. The Department of Local Housing as the appointing authority of developers will follow up developers who aren't affiliated or didn't affiliate to the IHSA. "At this time RDP houses will not be awarded to people who are not earning below the poverty line of R 800," the Mayor said.

"I thank all community members within our municipality who have responded in a positive manner since the inception of RDP houses and I am also urging them to keep on working together with their municipality," he concluded.