Today is an important day, the on which we launch the Imbizo week. Meanwhile there are so many perspectives from which the Imbizo week could be understood, I prefer to regard it as the week of interacting with our people and bringing government to their doorsteps.

Today is an important day, the on which we launch the Imbizo week. Meanwhile there are so many perspectives from which the Imbizo week could be understood, I prefer to regard it as the week of interacting with our people and bringing government to their doorsteps.

Of critical importance that our beneficiaries should know, and I would like to commend my cabinet colleagues in this regard for choosing housing for the launch of the Imbizo week. For me, and I hope for our beneficiaries too, this cabinet decision is a complete demonstration of the Western Cape government's commitment to housing. To our honorable Premier, I would like to say I couldn't be happier as the housing minister for this province.

I have been asked to give an overview of this Mornwood project, which happened to be the People's Housing Project, the one close to my heart. This project dates back to 2000 where the City Council had taken the decision to build houses for 5000 people living in the Philippi informal settlement.

What seems to be so interesting about this project is that, during that time, a group of
100 people felt that they did not want to go the route the City Council was proposing, and thus formed their own association for the People's Housing Process. Due to some problems a number of people pulled out of the project, leaving the project with only 54 people. What I would like to bring your attention to ladies and gentlemen is the democratic nature of this government.

This is what a democratic government is all about-giving people choices. No matter how small the membership of this project was, their needs and demands were not only listened to, but also addressed-something one would have not seen during the times of the apartheid government. In August 2002 my department approved this project. I am happy to say, to date all 54 houses have been completed with only a few minor touch-ups to do.

I know that some people have argued that the People's Housing Process is a rather slow housing delivery mechanism, but I would like to reassure the beneficiaries of this process that I am not about to abandon it for its obvious advantages. This process is in line with our family needs-that of a bigger space and allows parents to have their privacy at night.

I am told that the sizes of these houses range between 36, 42, 56 and 64 square meters. The beneficiaries of this project can be proud not only for finally having a house, but also for having been the key decision makers during the entire process. They decided how their houses should look like, how big they should be, they appointed their brick layers and building material suppliers.

I am also told that as a result of this project, about six local builders were able to put bread on the table whilst at the same time making their mark in the building industry for they did not come as sub-contractors, this means it is not long before they emerge as well-developed builders. With this in mind, allow me to conclude that this process is in line with our Black Economic Empowerment Policy.

Because people will have contributed through 'Sweat Equity' and in monitory terms, government is guaranteed that those houses won't be sold for next to nothing. This is what happens when you have successfully managed to inculcate the culture of involvement and contribution.

I hope it does not come as a surprise to hear that my department has to date approved a total of 66 PHP projects to the value of over R300 million out of a budget of R423 million that we received from national. This once again, seeks to demonstrate my commitment to the PHP.

As I am about to sit down may I take this opportunity in thanking the beneficiaries of this project for their resilience but most importantly, for their perseverance, which has obviously paid in the end.

To those local builders who stayed with this project, despite the fact that it might not have been profitable in terms of money, but I guess the greater reward is that you were part of building your own country. My warm words of thanks also go to the City of Cape Town for literally baby-sitting the project to the end. I am told that you facilitated the project, provided technical support, project management as well as the inspection in assuring the quality of these homes.

I also understand that the City Council helped the Support Center by allowing them to use their facilities-that is, telephones, fax machines etc. at absolutely no charge. Had this not happened, this project would have not taken only four to five months to complete.

It is my sincere hope that if we hold each other's hands we are invincible, and that no housing backlog forever remains insurmountable.