He cut the ribbons on several houses, before giving the elderly occupants a personal tour of their new homes.

Zuma then helped plant a small tree in one of the yards and threw sand around the tree’s roots with a gold spray-painted spade.

The president was accompanied by Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane.

Nearly 200 houses would be handed over to residents on Friday.

The hand-over was the first stage of a larger roll-out of basic services to Kanana Park residents.

Earlier, more than a thousand residents filed into a white marquee in the middle of the newly developed houses and sang in favour of “Msholozi” — Zuma’s clan name.

The president visited the region in 2010. The province and the City of Johannesburg began developing the Kanana Park housing project shortly afterwards.

The project would incorporate the settlements of Thulamntwana, Sweetwaters, and two smaller informal settlements of Doornkuil and Bhekaphambili.

A total of 3,101 houses were being built, 1,793 of which are government subsidised housing units, 756 social-rental units, and 552 bonded units.

In addition to the houses, several parks, two sports grounds, two primary schools, a high school, a clinic, and commercial and light industrial sites were being planned for the area.

Comments

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Sat May 25 21:21:22 SAST 2013 ::

Aug 10, 2012

DjEp

Only if you put more effort into such excersice of giving people houses since the day you were elected, today you wouldnt be worried of Mangaung, but its a little late! there are still millions out there waiting for such houses, while some have collapsed already.
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Aug 10, 2012

sabza007

Good work. He can also used this as part of his electioneering ticket.
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Aug 10, 2012

DjEp

If only he started early in his term but now he has created enough enemies than friend in South Africa.
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Aug 10, 2012

Charley4sure

Every newspaper is telling us about Zumaville, except Sowetan. The Editor is questionable.
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Aug 10, 2012

Arewanga

Who cares, let him try his best at the end, anyway he is not coming back. He is out.
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Aug 10, 2012

Home1234

Just a ruse to garner votes. This handful of RDP houses does not wipe out the billions that have been stolen by zuma and his cronies. The putrid mess they've made of the health system, the rampant corruption - billions that could have build decent houses for millions (decent houses - not the death traps that are knocked together by tender benders) - the dismal failure of the education department that is going to scar generations of children. These things are not going to go away. The apallingly high rate of unemployment amongst the youth and the anc's complete disregard for the law (shaik, selebi, blue light brigades, mutata ..... the list is endless). Its going to take a helova lot more than a few poxy RDP houses to fix this mess. zuma and his cronies are out. They do not deserve respect. No more precious votes wasted on them. They are greedy, selfish, incompetent parasites. We deserve better.
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Aug 10, 2012

jnrb

Yeah right but President Jacob Zuma spent R65 million on his remote family homestead at Nkandla in rural KwaZulu-Natal (see http://mg.co.za/article/2009-12-04-zumas-r65m-nkandla-splurge).It does put it in context though.

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Aug 10, 2012

CheeseBoy

zuma is an insult to all living creatures with more than 2 brain cells.
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Aug 10, 2012

DJWinner

So, that is why uMsholozi administration will get a second term. He delivers to his promises. This is a clear example that uMsholozi and his people are delivering to their promises.
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Aug 10, 2012

Punkies

I hope he will keep up with the high demand of this free houses. Gov should provide an environment where ppl can work & build their own house.
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