Kamogelo Seekoei
Kamogelo Seekoei
A 13-year wait for a house came to an end for Fungile Majekiso, of Doornkop in Soweto, on Monday.
The 55-year-old became one of the first people to benefit from a women-led project to build houses.
The Doornkop Thulani Housing Project was initiated by the Gauteng Housing Department to encourage women to join the industry. The contractors on the site include Ndilekaluzuko, Kopano Creative Concepts and L&R Welding and Suppliers, all owned by women.
They are part of a 10-women consortium awarded contracts to the value of R200million last year to build houses in Gauteng.
Relebogile Aaron, who owns L&R Welding and Suppliers, said: "This is women's month and there is no better way to celebrate it than to showcase the work women have been doing."
Aaron said she had 108 subcontractors and 38 were women.
"I have more women working for me than the other contractors on this project," said Aaron during the handing over of 50 houses to Doornkop residents by housing MEC Nomvula Mokonyane.
Mokonyane said because of plumbing setbacks, officials would start on Friday to distribute the houses to their owners.
Majekiso said he was the happiest man on earth after he received the key to his house.
"I have waited for so long for my wife and four children to live inside a brick house," he said.
Another proud homeowner was 17-year-old Thato Majele, whose parents died earlier this year. He said he would take care of the house that was supposed to have gone to his parents.
"I have been living in a shack since my parents died, but they have at least left me with something," the grade 12 orphan said.