KUGOMPO- Residents of Tsholomnqa A/A in Weltina Village, just outside KuGompo City (formerly known as East London), are celebrating after receiving new homes through the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP).
The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) handed over 195 RDP houses to deserving beneficiaries on Thursday, marking a significant milestone in the province’s efforts to address the housing backlog, particularly in rural communities.
Speaking at the ceremony, BCMM Executive Mayor Cllr. Princess Faku expressed gratitude to the provincial government for its intervention in rural areas. “Our mandate as a municipality ends in townships, but with the province’s help we are making a real difference in destitute and child-headed households, as well as for the elderly,” she said.
The beneficiaries include victims of floods, many of whom are elderly or living in difficult circumstances. For them, the new houses represent more than just shelter they offer safety, dignity and a fresh start.
One of the beneficiaries, 55-year-old Funeka Vandoyi, a mother of four who lives with a chronic illness and survives on a social grant said she was overwhelmed with joy after receiving her home. Her previous shack was swept away during floods.
“I am overjoyed to have this house. I never imagined having a home with furniture, aluminium windows and support such as food parcels and school shoes for my children,” said Vandoyi.
Another beneficiary, Thozama Matiwane, said she could hardly contain her excitement after waiting 13 years for a house. She had been living with her three children, including her 33-year-old unemployed firstborn, in a dilapidated temporary structure after their home was destroyed by floods.
“I didn’t sleep on Wednesday night because I was too excited to move into my new home. The makeshift roof was leaking and flooded, making it uninhabitable,” she said.
The 195 houses form part of a 200-unit housing project, with this handover marking the final phase of the development.
Mayor Faku urged beneficiaries not to sell their homes, warning that doing so undermines government’s efforts to reduce the housing backlog.
She added that the municipality continues to implement housing projects in other areas, including Ward 49 and remains committed to delivering more homes to residents in need.
Faku further noted that the provincial government’s intervention has fast-tracked housing delivery with Buffalo City Metro remaining one of the biggest beneficiaries of rural housing development in the province.
Chwayita Dinginto
06 March 2026
