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Western Cape MEC of Human Settlements say he is looking forward to visiting Ceres within the next few weeks to handover 30 houses to beneficiaries as part of the Vredebes Housing Project.

Of the 229 houses that’s been built as part of phase 1 of this development, 180 have been handed over. The 30 that will be benefitting now were previously approved for the Bella Vista Project.

MEC Simmers said: “This is an exciting time for these beneficiaries, and I cannot wait to share in their joy. My department has finalised the process of ensuring that the beneficiaries meet the qualifying criteria, while the Witzenberg municipality is currently undertaking their final administrative steps before the handover can occur.

There have been various delays, in the finalisation of this entire process and the positive steps that are being taken now are critical. This is particularly so, as the Witzenberg municipal area is situated in a district that has the second highest COVID-19 infection rate in the Western Cape. 

As at 13:00 on 23 June 2020, Witzenberg had 557 infections, with a recovery rate of 383. This demonstrates what can be achieved when the public and private sectors, along with the public at large work together to combat the spread of COVID-19. 

Since the introduction of the provincial government’s Integrated Health Response Plan for Witzenberg about a month ago, with the aim of slowing down the rate of infection and to enhance service delivery in respect of COVID-19, we have made progress in combatting the virus. 

Over the past month, the Western Cape Government, Witzenberg Municipality and the Cape Winelands District Municipality have been hard at work.  
Community Screening and Testing (CST) teams started in Bellavista, Wolseley, Tulbagh, and Nduli where positive COVID-19 cases were registered, and COVID-19 deaths occurred. A Testing Facility (tent) was erected at Ceres Hospital for screening and testing.

COVID -19 Quarantine and Isolation Facilities have also been established, with 80 beds at Dennebos and 180 at Rustic Venues. In addition to this, community health workers on farms, who are being supported by professional nurses have also been trained, while disinfectant teams were deployed to disinfect taxis, and the Witzenberg Municipality began disinfecting the public spaces in Ceres.

A lot more is required and by getting these beneficiaries to move into their homes will assist in maintaining social distancing, while strengthening the practice of effective and good hygiene.

As the Western Cape Government, we remain committed to accelerating human settlement delivery, while promoting social inclusion through the development of integrated, resilient, safe and sustainable human settlements in an open opportunity society.”

Issued by Western Cape Human Settlements