More than 140 destitute families in Silindile Township, Lothair, are celebrating a new chapter in their lives after receiving the keys to their newly built government-subsidised homes.
The official handover was led by Mpumalanga MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA), Speed Mashilo, alongside Gert Sibande District Executive Mayor Walter Mngomezulu and Msukaligwa Local Municipality Executive Mayor Mapulane Nkosi.
The beneficiaries are among the recipients of a 340-unit housing project delivered through the Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme (UISP), a government initiative aimed at replacing unsafe informal dwellings and improving the living conditions of vulnerable communities.
During the ceremony, the leaders symbolically ushered two identified beneficiaries into their fully furnished homes, marking a significant milestone in government’s ongoing efforts to address the historical growth of informal settlements.
Mashilo said the UISP is designed to eradicate shack dwellings and unsafe mud houses while formalising tenure rights for residents living in informal settlements.
“The Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme plays a pivotal role in creating sustainable human settlements and restoring the dignity of eligible households,” said Mashilo.
He added that the department remains committed to upgrading as many informal settlements as possible in line with the national objective of providing safe and dignified housing for all qualifying beneficiaries.
Mngomezulu described the housing handover as a major step towards fulfilling government’s commitment to providing decent and affordable housing to disadvantaged communities.
“Restoring dignity to vulnerable and deserving residents often begins with a home. With a roof over your head, you have security, worth and a sense of purpose, and this is important in living a dignified life,” he said.
Nkosi thanked the provincial government for prioritising Silindile Township, saying the project would bring lasting stability to families while demonstrating the value of cooperation between different spheres of government.
“The delivery of these homes will not only restore pride and stability to families but also reflects the power of strong intergovernmental collaboration in restoring human dignity,” she said.
For many beneficiaries, the handover was an emotional occasion.
Among them was 59-year-old Fikile Xulu, who lives with a disability. Overcome with emotion, she shed tears of joy as she entered her fully furnished home for the first time.
Xulu said she had been renting a dilapidated shack in the Esidakaneni informal settlement with her two children.
“I am so grateful to have a permanent decent home. We feel safe and loved by our government,” she said.
Seventy-seven-year-old Samson Mhlanga also expressed heartfelt gratitude for finally receiving a permanent home after years of waiting.
The event also included the donation of blankets and food parcels to the Sukumani Care Centre before concluding with a community engagement session.
The provincial government has allocated R35.91 million for the Upgrading of Informal Settlements Programme during the 2026/27 financial year as it continues to expand access to decent housing across Mpumalanga.
