HESSEQUA NEWS - Handing over the final 45 title deeds to homeowners in Slangrivier on Thursday 9 November, Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers said a painful chapter had finally come to an end.
Hessequa Mayor Grant Riddles accompanied Simmers to Slangrivier on the big day that saw all 568 properties finally registered in favour of the Slangrivier community after 14 long years.
The department started the programme back in 2009 and now, with all the properties transferred, Simmers said the title deeds have emancipated the community.
“In the early 90s, families in this town were devastated when it was found that their town had been sold to private owners unbeknown to them. However, in 2009, the Western Cape Government committed to redress this unjust act, and today I am proud to stand here and hand over the final batch of title deeds. The hope of Slangrivier has been restored.”
Simmers said the event also commemorates Disability Awareness Month, as a few of the beneficiaries are individuals with disabilities. “It is with a great sense of pride and joy that I hand over title deeds to beneficiaries like the visually impaired Mr Isa van Wyk and Mrs Maria Pieters.”
950 homes for Swellendam
From Slangrivier, Simmers travelled to Swellendam where he and Mayor Francois du Rand performed a bricklaying ceremony to signal the start of the top structure construction of the Railton housing project.
The Railton housing project will boast 950 units with 240 homes expected to be handed over before March next year. Simmers said since the sod-turning ceremony in 2001, the project has created multiple job opportunities for residents, with 70% of vacancies filled by locals.
Solar geysers
He surprised the community with the announcement that some of the houses will be fitted with solar panel geysers - making Railton one of the five projects in which the energy crisis mitigating initiative will be piloted.
“I am pleased to announce that my department has committed to fitting 177 houses with solar panels before the end of this financial year. While the Western Cape Government continues to find alternative solutions to mitigate the energy crisis in our country, we will ensure that the most vulnerable members of our communities are not left behind,” Simmers said.
Du Rand thanked Simmers for his continued investment in Swellendam. “Thank you for particularly ensuring that this project does not get derailed. I look forward to handing over the first set of house keys to the qualifying beneficiaries.”
Du Rand’s words have deeper meaning when viewed in the light of the violent protests in Swellendam in August and September when shops were looted and municipal buildings and vehicles torched. A large group of Swellendam residents turned violent after council determined that indigent residents needed to re-apply for subsidised services such as electricity and pensioner rebates.
Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers at the Railton housing project in Swellendam with Mayor Francois du Rand.
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