The KwaZulu-Natal department of housing unveiled a R37-million housing project at KwaHlabisa in the north of the province on Saturday.
The project was scheduled to see more than 1 000 low-cost houses being built before the end of the year, said spokesperson Bheko Madlala.
”We want to intensify these housing projects as KwaZulu-Natal has the most number of people residing in rural areas compared to other provinces. We therefore believe that we cannot address the question of development if we don’t address housing,” said Madlala.
Work on the project would begin next week and would create jobs for the local community. Madlala said that over R1,8-billion had already been spent on the rural housing project.
Meanwhile, South African Broadcasting Corporation news reported on Saturday that the province had set aside R18-million to help victims of the devastating storms in Vryheid in December. Scores of people were left homeless.
Three-month-old Nokuphiwa Mtshali died in the storm that blew away the frail structure in which her family were living near Utrecht.
Two other people drowned after the Bhanya river burst its banks at Bhekuzulu township in Vryheid.
Provincial housing and local government minister Mike Mabuyakhulu said: ”We are helping reconstruct the houses damaged by the storm because a caring government should be with its people in times of need, and this is our responsibility”. – Sapa