Gauteng: Human Settlements to become the pillars of the new cities

1st June 2015

Gauteng: Human Settlements to become the pillars of the new cities

Lindiwe Sisulu

Gauteng Department of Human Settlements MEC Jacob Mamabolo announced that his department will become one of the key pillars of the new corridors of development as the province prepares to build new post-apartheid cities. MEC Mamabolo said this at Provincial Govan Mbeki Awards held over the weekend at the Silver Star Casino in Krugersdorp.

The Awards were named after Govan Mbeki based on the role he played and vision he had on the preservation of human dignity through the provision of human settlements for all.

The purpose of the Govan Mbeki Awards is to promote and inculcate a culture of excellence within the Human Settlement sector in the delivery of quality Human Settlements and restoration of dignity to South Africans.

MEC Mamabolo told construction industry players who attended the awards on the day that there is going to be a lot of construction opportunities for them and for the emerging contractors. He said the province will once again become a hive of activities when the Department starts the building of new cities with human settlements as a key pillar of corridors of development.

“Contractors must prepare themselves as we are going to be busy in the next coming years when we build the new cities. We are ready to turn the province into a construction site and work with the contractors and grow the economy,” said Mamabolo.

MEC said the contractors should strive for excellence as they build government-subsidised houses. He told contractors to guard against the delivery of houses that are of bad quality and poor workmanship. “We are not going to allow contractors who cut corners in order to make profit. If you think you will cut corners then you are not going join us in this journey of building new cities as we are going to blacklist all those who are dishonest when tasked with delivery of houses for the poorest of the poor,” said Mamabolo.

Mamabolo encouraged contractors to work with the department to realise the dreams of hundreds of citizens who are still waiting for their houses.” The future of human settlements looks good in Gauteng and I want you to work with us. We will also make sure that you are paid within the stipulated period of 30 days,” said Mamabolo.

The Govan Mbeki Awards were dominated by Calgro Construction Company who were the biggest winner of the night. Galgro is the contractor of the integrated housing development of Fleurhof South-West of Johannesburg which has brought people closer to their places of work.

Speaking on behalf of Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and the Director-General, the Chief Information Officer Mr Mandla Xaba said the Human Settlement sector is more often than not at the receiving end of bad publicity within the media space. “ Notwithstanding that we acknowledge that there is within the sector a number of matters that need attention especially related to quality and poor workmanship as well as matters related to household allocation and management,” said Xaba.

Winners on the night are as follows:


Issued by the Gauteng Provincial Government