MEMBERS of the community and other volunteers picked up their tools to build 10 houses for elderly Diepsloot residents through Habitat for Humanity.

TEN Diepsloot residents will be the proud owners of newly built houses by the end of this week. The City of Johannesburg has teamed up with Habitat for Humanity to build 10 houses in the township in just five days. "We would usually have 16 houses built but this year, because of limited time, we are only able to build 10," said Walter Melato, the projects director in the City's housing department.

Volunteers and qualified builders are hard at work in an effort to complete the houses on time. "We started yesterday [Monday, 11 June] and by Friday this house will be complete," said Johannes Hlabathi, a bricklayer.

Because the area was already full to capacity, the houses were being built on existing yards, Melato explained.

"I am very happy that my application was approved to get a new house," said Moyhabo Mofaralala, one of the 10 beneficiaries. "This shack is very small and I have to share it with four people, including their babies. There is no space for movement."

Professional builders and volunteers work frantically to complete 10 houses on deadline

Mofaralala's house is nearly finished and she's very excited about meeting Executive Mayor Amos Masondo on Friday, when he will officially hand over each of the houses to their new owners.

Diepsloot was chosen for the project because 80 percent of people in the area qualify for Reconstruction and Development Programme houses. Melato said a number of criteria were used to select the beneficiaries - they had to be South African citizens; they had to have dependents; and they should not earn more than R3 000 a month, among others.

Mafaralala, Alina Kefiloe, Gezephi Mdakane, Fabaphi Mahlangu, Rasiki Moloi, Emily Ramathlodi, Khehla Sebeko and Cebile Ximba are eight of the ten; all of them are between 50 and 67 years old.

"Over and above the building of houses, we are planting trees in front of all 10 of the houses. The trees will be planted before the official opening," Melato added.

Habitat for Humanity South Africa, part of the international group, is a non-profit, non-governmental, Christian housing organisation committed to helping communities build decent shelter for those who can't afford to build houses themselves.

Community volunteers were used to build the houses, according to Melato. Habitat also helped to select the families who would get houses.

"[Habitat for Humanity's] contribution is mainly through training in builders' roles, responsibilities, house design and construction programmes."

Masondo will visit the new homeowners on Friday, 15 June to cut the ribbon that will mark the official handing over and opening of the houses. " I went to buy a gorgeous traditional outfit for the opening of my new house," Mofaralala said.

Related stories
Housing department and Habitat for Humanity join hands
Read more