MOSSEL BAY NEWS - In a cordial meeting with Western Cape MEC for housing Minister Bonginkosi Madikizela, a committee consisting of stakeholders in the Khayelitsha community in KwaNonqaba, expressed the hope that its efforts towards better living conditions would be honoured.

The executive mayor of Mossel Bay, Alderman Harry Levendal, told the community representatives he, too, lived in an informal dwelling until he was in Grade 7.

"I cannot meet and work with people if I leave them behind, living in squalor, when I return to my home comforts at night. I am fully aware of the history of these community members, who were left to live in conditions similar to a single garage."

A Mr Faku spoke on behalf of the community when he apologised to the minister for the manner in which the community treated him on a previous occasion. He said he hoped the relationship with the minister could start afresh.

Minister Madikizela stressed the need for due process as tax payers money was used. He said an assessment process of the community's needs and the defects of the houses involved will follow, as would a meeting to establish and verify a preliminary list of beneficiaries. 

Je insisted that the meeting should take place urgently so that, at the follow-up meeting matters can be expedited.

The municipal manager, Adv Thys Giliomee thanked the minister for going out of his way to assist the community.

The chairman of the mayoral committee on housing, councillor Cliffie Bayman thanked the community's leadership for the opportunity to form a partnership that will jointly better the lives of the people of Mossel Bay.

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