Department of Housing: New appointments
New Appointments at the Department of Housing, Bekkersdal Renewal Project team:
Heita! Bonelwa Mpangele
Appointed as Administrative Assistant, Department of Housing
“I feel good working in the Housing team, and I want to develop the project so that I may improve my skills. I’m very happy to work with people at the Department of Housing and the community of Bekkersdal.”
|
|
 |
Hola!
Nokuthula (Thuli) Radebe
Appointed as Receptionist, Department of Housing
“I am born and bred in Bekkersdal. I started working for the Department of Housing on June 1, 2008 as a receptionist. In the future I want to continue working for my community in Bekkersdal.”
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
From left: Tholakele Mogoerane (Project Administrator), Tsepiso Moloi (Project Manager),
Palesa Thulare (PA to the Project Manager), Pelonomi Botsime (Project Administrator),
Gertrude Soko (Project Coordinator), Ratanang Lebeko (Communications Manager). |
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Left: Oabile Mahura (Assistant Administration), Maria Phosa (Assistant Administration)
Right: Tholwana Magome (Project Manager) |
|
Message from the BRP Project Manager
The Bekkersdal Renewal Project (BRP) has certainly gained momentum and the progress of our projects is now starting to become visible on the ground. The past three months have indeed been busy for all the BRP stakeholders.
On the 5th and 6th of June 2008 the MEC for Housing, Mrs Nomvula Mokonyane, launched the Bekkersdal Development Hub (BDH). The 2 day event also included the Local Economic Development Indaba under the theme “creating sustainable communities through local economic development”. The Indaba was aimed at sharing information and best practices on LED within South Africa. This created a platform to encourage private sector participation in the projects and to share ideas with other stakeholders about how the community can best benefit from the projects, to alleviate poverty and creating sustainable job opportunities.
The MEC also launched the Mohlakeng Ext 11 mixed housing project on the 18th June 2008. The project will build 9500 housing units. The first phase launched is of 500 units. The development is intended to accommodate residents from Bekkersdal and Zenzele. This has brought great hope to the residents of the Bekkersdal informal settlement.
The Bekkersdal infrastructure projects have been progressing well. The brick making plant has been completed and is now ready to begin production and to supply bricks to the growing construction sector in the West Rand region. The West Clinic has been completed and handed over to the Municipality. Services are already being delivered from the new clinic. The first quarter of this year has seen the start of upgrading of more social facilities like the police station, which is being extended, the upgrading of the sports field and the construction of the incubation hub for SMME development. The Agri-business project has also started. This project will produce herbs and vegetables for local and export consumption.
 |
|
|
|
| 25 NGO members received computer training through the Bekkersdal Development Hub |
|
None of these achievements would have been possible without the hard work and commitment of the Westonaria Local Municipality, Power House Consortium, Bekkersdal Development Forum (BDF) and the Community Liaison Officers. All the stakeholders have worked tirelessly with the Department of Housing, to ensure that the project objectives are realised. There has been on-going public participation and consultation with the residents. As part of the outreach programme the BRP hosted a fun run in commemoration of youth month.
In keeping with capacity building and skills transfer, 25 NGO members are being trained in computer literacy skills, through the BDH. The BRP has also initiated a communications internship programme, where five bright-eyed young Bekkersdal residents were selected to undergo on the job media and communications training. This is boost for the communications arm. These interns are already making their mark by the role they played in producing this issue of BEKKIES in their first month on the job! Well done to them!
BEKKIES is the voice of the BRP – to share information about what’s happening in the projects and to allow you, the residents of Bekkersdal to participate in the job-creation and skills development opportunities. Please feel free to contact the Bekkersdal Development Forum members or any of the Community Liaison Officers for more information about the BRP. You will find all our contact details on page four.
Warm regards,
Tsepiso Moloi
BRP Project Manager
Gauteng Department of Housing
|
