The MEC for Local Government in Limpopo, Maite Nkoana Mashabane, officially handed over 118 houses to Mununzwu Newco Farm workers at an event that was held at Mabedengwa Village near Elim in the Waterfall area last Wednesday.

The workers, who have mostly been staying in shacks and mud houses, were very grateful to receive the well-built four-roomed houses from the provincial government and their employer, Mr Carl Henning.

The MEC said the 118 units that were built for the hardworking farm workers of Mununzwu Newco farm were built at a cost of R4 million. She added that it was exiting to see that the farm workers were the co-owners of the project. Mashabane congratulated the director and owner of Macadamia Mununzwu Newco Farm, Mr Carl Henning, who initiated the project for the benefit of his employees.

"I would like to thank and congratulate the Makhado Municipality and Mununzwu Newco for their support of the project. Let us continue to build and cultivate our province. A re’ageng Mzansi," Mashabane outlined.

She added that the houses formed part of the department of local government’s People´s Housing Project (PHP).
Mirror learnt during the event that the farmer, Mr Henning, helped the department to build the houses.

Henning told Mirror that they decided to build houses for workers after they discovered that the workers were staying in shabby mud houses and shacks, adding that the beneficiaries included retired workers from his farm. Henning added that the project would go a long way towards bridging the social gap between farmers and their employees and helping Government to eradicate poverty.

In a bid to further empower the community, 60 people were employed during the construction of the houses. The beneficiaries of the houses also assisted during construction, working alongside a Cuban engineer attached to the department.

It was also revealed that, in 2004, Mr Henning built four-roomed houses for five farmers who were part of the land claimants of Moddervlei.

Henning was said to have contributed R4 000 to each house. Unlike RDP houses, the houses have ceilings and electricity.
"We remain committed to working with government in building houses for needy workers who are staying in very poor conditions," concludes Henning.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Khubani Hlongwani indicated that some of the families who were sharing their shabby houses and shacks with their kids would now have privacy. "Life was tough as some of the workers had no roof over their heads. We are grateful to receive these houses. In my lifetime, I never imagined myself staying in a four-roomed house with big windows, a ceiling and a toilet," she said excitedly.

Most of the Mununzwu farm workers, who spoke to Mirror, indicated that they were lucky to have somebody like Henning, "who actually understands our backgrounds. He is very generous. We don’t know how our life would be without him," they revealed.

Henning is also known for having donated about 5 000 grafted macadamia trees to emerging farmers of theVhembe District, who will now be able to use them to expand their farms and contribute to the economy meaningfully, during an event that was held at his farm in March this year.