Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements Paul Mashatile expressed satisfaction with the progress that had been made in the delivery of housing in Orange Farm during a whirlwind tour of Region G under the Ntirhisano Outreach Programme on Thursday July 20.
Ntirhisano, which means co-operation in Xitsonga, is the Gauteng Provincial Government’s integrated and comprehensive service delivery programme that seeks to transform interaction between the government and communities to adequately respond to residents’ needs. It also seeks to empower communities to drive their own development.
The tour of Orange Farm and Poortje, led by Gauteng Premier David Makhura, was a follow-up to a visit undertaken in June last year to assess service delivery projects in the two area and engage residents to address identified bottlenecks.
MEC Mashatile said he was delighted that 90% of the houses that the government had promised to provide had been completed. He said those that had not been completed, mainly due to non-payment and disputes with contractors, would be completed by the end of September this year after all the problems had been ironed out.
“The visit was worthwhile as it enabled us to experience first-hand the problems faced by the community. From now on we know what we must do to keep Ntirhisano programme going,” he said.
The MEC’s entourage included City of Johannesburg’s Member of the Mayoral Committee for Housing, Cllr Mzobanzi Ntuli, who said the City was always prepared, willing and ready to work with the provincial government to improve service delivery and residents’ lives.
The delegation included councillors and officials from the provincial government and the region’s Citizen Relationships and Urban Management (CRUM) Department.
Cllr Ntuli said he was satisfied with the progress that had been made in the provision of housing but conceded that there was a lot that still needed to be done. He said he was happy to be part of the delegation to see for himself the achievements that had been made and challenges the government was faced with.
“I’m satisfied with the developments in spite of challenges. But I’m happy because I was with MEC Mashatile, who assured residents that all problems and obstacles would be overcome and houses built. As the City of Johannesburg, we are always prepared and willing and ready to work with the provincial government.
“We might have differences here and there but at the end of the day we have one goal – to improve the lives of the people,” Cllr Ntuli said.
Busisiwe Mkhathini, a resident of Orange Farm Extension 8, said she hoped the visit by MEC Mashatile and Cllr Ntuli would yield results “this time around”. She said the government had been making promises for the past 11 years that were never fulfilled.
“I hope this time things will happen,’’ she said.
