Michael Sakuneka

Michael Sakuneka

The Limpopo government and its housing department have started the construction of about 100 houses for military veterans, honouring their struggle for South Africa's liberation.

The housing project will cost about R10million, MEC Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said when she tabled her departmental budget in the Limpopo legislature.

Housing department spokesman Clayson Monyela said the project would help integrate the veterans into society.

He said the first phase would take place in Polokwane this year and that the department planned to build more houses for veterans throughout the province.

"By integrating the veterans into communities we would like them to teach our children the history of the struggle that nurtured the democracy we enjoy today," Monyela said.

He said the department was concerned that too many veterans were still living in poverty.

He also indicated that the project was in response to recommendations at the ANC's 52nd national conference in Limpopo in December last year.

Monyela told Sowetan that the department had introduced a three-year plan to build the veterans' houses.

He said that during the previous financial year the department had built about 8495 houses and it would build another 3000 this year.

Umkhonto we Sizwe Veterans ' chairman in Limpopo, Semomo Maake, welcomed the department's decision.

He said the project "had come at the right time" since many of the veterans were struggling to survive without a formal education.