By Teboho Moloi
QWAQWA – Free State MEC for Cooperative Governance, Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements, Saki Mokoena, has assured residents that the province’s new mud house eradication programme will not derail the government’s ongoing rollout of RDP housing or the completion of unfinished units.
Speaking during the official launch of the project in QwaQwa on Friday, Mokoena said the initiative aims to replace all remaining mud houses in QwaQwa and Thaba Nchu using innovative construction technology that allows a full house to be completed within eight days.
“The approach and material we’re using have been tested for safety and durability. Each unit will match RDP standards – 40 square metres in size, structurally sound, and insured for five years to cover any defects,” said Mokoena.
He added that construction will begin on 1 November, with most beneficiaries of the first phase expected to receive their houses by Christmas. The department targets completion of the initial phase by March 2025, the end of the current financial year.
Mokoena acknowledged that QwaQwa and Thaba Nchu have the province’s highest concentration of mud houses and over 2,000 incomplete RDP units. He blamed the backlog on past administrative failures and periods when housing construction in the Free State “came to a standstill” due to governance challenges.
“To correct the allocation process, the department will publish a public schedule of building activities to ensure transparency,” he added.
Maluti-a-Phofung Executive Mayor, Masechaba Melato, welcomed the project, calling it “a new dawn” for communities long neglected in housing delivery.
“What we promised the people – decent shelter with dignity – is now being realised. These houses restore pride to our communitie,” she said.
Melato also cautioned against individuals attempting to obstruct government service delivery, warning that such actions would not be tolerated.
The mud house eradication programme aligns with the 2024 Human Settlements White Paper, which seeks to assist municipalities facing funding shortfalls. Mokoena said the department’s approach includes providing serviced sites, RDP houses, and Community Residential Units (CRUs) for affordable rental—targeting low-income earners and new families not yet ready to own property.
“Not everyone wants to own a house immediately,” he said. “Our goal is to ensure every Free Stater has access to safe, dignified, and affordable accommodation.”
