07 May 2014

The waiting list for Self Help Housing Agency (SHHA) under the Palapye Administration Authority stands at 635 for turnkey and 27 applicants for house improvement as at April 2014.

SHAA is responsible for assisting low and middle income earners to afford better shelter. Senior assistant council secretary for PAA, Mr Koti Molefi said in an interview that as soon as funds were available, applicants in the waiting list would be funded in accordance with their date of application.

He said every year, each constituency was given funds for 17 turnkey houses, which were allocated based on dates of application.

Under turnkey, a beneficiary was handed over the house key, ready for occupation after completion. Mr Molefi said a total of 45 people benefited from turnkey and 20 from house improvements in the last financial year.

He said of the 45 people, 17 were for Palapye, 17 from Tswapong North in the villages of Maunatlala, Ratholo, Majwaneng, Lerala, Lesenepole, Matolwane and Lecheng.

Under house improvement, he said 7 people out of 20 benefited from house improvement in Palapye whilst the rest came from surrounding villages.

However, he said council has not yet received funds for this financial year to undertake these housing projects and as a result, it is difficult to anticipate the number of houses that will be built in this financial year.

He said the number of houses to be constructed depends on funds disbursed by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

He said his council cannot make estimations because it shares some constituencies with other sub districts. Ends