Thirteen families from Mier Municipal areas lives were positively changed when they were handed keys to their brand new houses by the Premier of the Northern Cape, Ms Sylvia Lucas. These families were found to be living in dilapidated houses and makeshift structures that they had put together when Government paid them a visit during the Cabinet Outreach programme to Mier last year.

Government viewed this as a serious threat and felt that immediate intervention was needed in order to give these families decent shelter. The commitment was made that planning should start for the construction of the houses that now comes as an early Christmas present to these families.

For Anna Bok, whose mother had succumbed this year when their house burned down, this was the best news in a very long time. When the young Anna lost her mother and their house earlier this year she was in complete despair and did not know what would happen to her and her nephew who she has in her care after his mother was killed by his father several years ago. She now feels happy that with this house they can start rebuilding their lives and expressed her gratitude to the Premier for coming to their aid.

Sharon Goliath who spoke on behalf of her bedridden mother could not hold back her tears when she expressed her gratitude to Government who had come to the aid of her and her family. They took the decision a few years ago to move from Cape Town to her mother’s place of birth, Loubos, in the Mier area when her mother was diagnosed with Cancer. This comes as wonderful news at a time when they are fighting against the illness and hoping for their mothers recovery.

Ms Lucas made an appeal to the families to look after their houses and expressed the hope that these beautiful houses will afford them the dignity that they deserve. She stated that, “When we saw the circumstances that you were living in we knew that something outside the ordinary needed to be done to give you proper houses. We are happy that we are here a year later to hand you these houses, which is a demonstration that Government does not make promises, it makes commitments and we honour and uphold these.”

Another 40 houses are planned for the Loubos, Rietfontein and Philandersbron areas in the Mier Municipality. These are to replace the houses affected by flooding and structural defects. Planning has already started on these and they will be rolled out next year.


Released by the Office of the Premier

Spokesperson: Bronwyn Thomas-Abrahams, 083 447 6586