THE residents of Orange Groove informal settlement near the East London International Airport were over the moon this weekend when they received news that the provincial department of human settlements had concluded a R3.6-million land transaction for developmental purposes.
Human settlements MEC Helen Sauls-August informed residents on Friday that her department would build houses on the land.
The Orange Groove community has been at odds with the ANC-led Bhisho government after the Buffalo City Metro failed to hand over the land purchased in 2008 by for housing for more than 5000 beneficiaries in the area.
Community leader, Themba Wele, said they were promised that the land would be officially handed over to them in October last year, but that never happened.
Earlier this year the residents took to the streets and demanded the removal of councillor, Nontsikelelo Peter, who they accused of not championing the land issue. But it was evident on Friday that Wele and the residents had since set aside their differences.
"We have been fighting for so long. I am glad we finally got the land," Wele said
Sauls-August said the land would still belong to her department and people would get their title deeds once their houses have been built.
Sauls-August said construction of the the new housing project would be done by the end of the 2013-2014 financial year. She also promised that the names of all the beneficiaries would be handed to the Buffalo City municipality soon.
"We are going to work with the municipality every step of this process. We will engage with the various departments because this an inter-grated human settlement project," Sauls-August said.
Wele hoped the new housing project would create jobs for the local community.
"We are happy that everyone will have a decent house," Wele said.
He also promised that residents would not invade the newly bought land but would wait for the government to complete its process.
Another resident, Fundiswa Sizani, said she was glad there was finally something being done about their situation.
"Some of us here have title deeds yet we do not have houses but we hope this time around we will receive our houses as promised," she said.
'Squatter community' to get houses
THE residents of Orange Groove informal settlement near the East London International Airport were over the moon this weekend when they received news that the provincial department of human settlements had concluded a R3.6-million land transaction for developmental purposes.
Human settlements MEC Helen Sauls-August informed residents on Friday that her department would build houses on the land.
The Orange Groove community has been at odds with the ANC-led Bhisho government after the Buffalo City Metro failed to hand over the land purchased in 2008 by for housing for more than 5000 beneficiaries in the area.
Community leader, Themba Wele, said they were promised that the land would be officially handed over to them in October last year, but that never happened.
Earlier this year the residents took to the streets and demanded the removal of councillor, Nontsikelelo Peter, who they accused of not championing the land issue. But it was evident on Friday that Wele and the residents had since set aside their differences.
"We have been fighting for so long. I am glad we finally got the land," Wele said
Sauls-August said the land would still belong to her department and people would get their title deeds once their houses have been built.
Sauls-August said construction of the the new housing project would be done by the end of the 2013-2014 financial year. She also promised that the names of all the beneficiaries would be handed to the Buffalo City municipality soon.
"We are going to work with the municipality every step of this process. We will engage with the various departments because this an inter-grated human settlement project," Sauls-August said.
Wele hoped the new housing project would create jobs for the local community.
"We are happy that everyone will have a decent house," Wele said.
He also promised that residents would not invade the newly bought land but would wait for the government to complete its process.
Another resident, Fundiswa Sizani, said she was glad there was finally something being done about their situation.
"Some of us here have title deeds yet we do not have houses but we hope this time around we will receive our houses as promised," she said.
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