April 11, 2005
By Anish Abraham
IT WAS a busy day for beneficiaries of the Letsema Project in Ivory Park, as councillors and other City officials chipped in on Friday, 8 April 2005 to help with the construction of four new houses in the far-flung informal settlement in the northern corner of Ivory Park.
The project is connected to the People's Housing Process, a provincial government initiative to assist people to build their own houses. Letsema is an old tradition whereby members of a community help each other with tasks that are too difficult for one family, without requiring any favour in return.
Johannesburg's housing department joined forces with the provincial government to roll out the People's Housing Process, an initiative whereby individuals are encouraged to build their own houses with financial assistance from the government.
Members of the community are called on to help with the building
A sprawling informal settlement on the northern fringe of the municipality, some 10 kilometres outside the city, Ivory Park has been the focus of several infrastructure upgrades and social development programmes over recent years.
According to Tembela Mdlulwa, the City's deputy director for regional co-ordination, members involved with Letsema help build houses for pensioners, Aids orphans, physically disabled people and young and single mothers. City officials who gave up their time to help out at the building sites included Strike Ralegoma, the MMC for housing; Uhuru Nene, the director of housing; and several councillors on the Section 80 committee for housing.
Lina Letswalo, a pensioner who lives with three of her grandchildren, two of whom are assisting with the building of her new house, is a beneficiary. "I am so happy to get away from the shack," she says. Around her a sea of shanties made of zinc, plastic and cardboard engulf a few brick and mortar houses.
Nene commended those who had come to help the building, but Councillor Shirley Mofokeng pointed out that it was not easy to find volunteers and people had to be educated about volunteering and assisting others.
The Letsema Project aims to assist those who are unable to build their own houses, within the People's Housing Process, in Doornkop, Orange Farm, Ivory Park and Diepsloot.
Nene said the houses were fully complaint with regulations. Qualified bricklayers were used and the builders received assistance from the relevant city utilities and agencies.
Donors also help the project, mainly giving protective clothing, building tools and catering and refreshments. Members of the community are also called on to help, whether financially, materially or by helping with the actual construction.
Helen Maleka, a single mother who lives with her three children and a relative, is another beneficiary. Watching the building of her new house from the shack she now lives in, Maleka was delighted she would live in a house built with help from the city and the community.
At 42 square metres, the houses built through the People's Housing Process are bigger than those provided by the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), which are 30 square metres in size.
Ralegoma was satisfied with progress, saying, "It is important for us as a department to face this big challenge. It is also good that city officials are contributing their time and effort to the project."
To make a donation, get involved or for more information about the Letsema Project, contact the City's housing department on 011 407 7001.
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