Human Settlements Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has called on community members of Westonaria Borwa, in Johannesburg, to preserve their houses and look after the community infrastructure.
Sisulu visited the Westonaria housing project with Gauteng Human Settlements MEC Paul Mashatile on Thursday to kick start an aggressive title deeds roll-out campaign aimed at restoring dignity and land ownership for poor South Africa.
"A house is your empowerment from your government, please don't sell it for short-term gains, it is your family asset. I am warning you against people who will tempt you to sell. They know your house is valuable, never sell," she said.
One of government’s mega projects, the Westonaria Borwa housing project is expected to deliver 16 000 houses, including bonded, gap market and social housing or rental stock, as well as social and economic amenities.
The project, which has delivered close to 1 700 houses and 3 000 serviced sites, was initially aimed at eradicating the existing informal settlement of Bekkersdal. However, the other informal settlements have since been incorporated into the project.
These include Waterworks, Zuurbekom, Thusanang and Venterspos.
To date, over 4.6-million houses and subsidies have been delivered countrywide benefiting millions of households.