EASTERN Cape Human Settlements MEC, Siphokazi Mani-Lusithi, has officially handed over a multi-purpose community centre to the community of Matshona Village in Ntabankulu. The construction, to the tune of R8million, was funded by her department.
Mani-Lusithi was accompanied by the Ntabankulu Local Municipality mayor, Tsileng Sobuthongo.
The facility, neighbouring Lwandl’olubomvu Traditional Council Head Nkosi Nzululwazi Sigcau’s Great Place in Matshona Village in Ntabankulu, has been named Chief Ntsikayezwe Sigcau Multi-purpose Community Centre by the community.
Nkosi Ntsikayezwe Sigcau was the father to the reigning chief, Nzululwazi Sigcau. He died in 1996.
The facility was officially opened on February 9.
Speaking during Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane’s oversight visit to the facility in November last year, Nkosi Nzululwazi Sigcau hailed the facility a groundbreaking development that will bring government services closer to the people.
“As the community we are elated about the state-of-the-art infrastructure that the government has built for us. We wish to express our sincere words of gratitude to the government for their efforts in improving the lives of our people, as well as supporting the institution of traditional leadership,” Sigcau said at the time.
According to Sigcau, the multi-purpose centre will bring government services closer to his people, as it will periodically host government departments such as the Department of Home Affairs, the Department of Social Development, the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, and others.
The facility further boasts a day-care centre, a computer laboratory, an administration block, a community hall, a library, kitchen and ablution facilities, among many of its state-of-the-art features.
It will also offer educational and recreational space for the youth.
Meanwhile, Lusithi also used her official visit to Alfred Nzo District Municipality to hand over 53 housing units in Mnceba Village in EmaXesibeni (formerly Mount Frere) under the Umzimvubu Local Municipality.
The houses were handed over on February 8.
The 53 units form part of Mnceba 1000 Rural Housing, a project spread over three villages.
According to the provincial Department of Human Settlements, beneficiaries of the rural housing project are mainly elderly women who previously lived in collapsing structures.
“The Mnceba 100 Rural Housing Project is one of many housing projects in the province that had stalled for years after the appointed contractor abandoned site. We are happy that this is one of the projects that we have successfully resuscitated, and many more will be revived during the 2024/25 financial year,” said Mani-Lusithi.
The department said that it planned to boost rural development with 973 more housing units from eight projects running in Umzimvubu, Ntabankulu, and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela local municipalities during the current financial year.
