By Emma Kakololo
WINDHOEK
A domestic worker and mother of seven, Monica Kapetua (53), could not believe her ears recently upon receiving news that some company was going to donate to her a house.
The “Good Samaritan” is the newly-established housing company, MGM Properties CC.
Kapetua has been living in a shack at Goreangab since 1998 and, after fruitless attempts to acquire a home loan, started believing that she was destined to live in a shack forever.
“Because of my small salary, I could not receive help from the municipality to build a house,” she said when approached for comment on Thursday.
“I was advised that the N$30 000 I qualify for was just not enough to build a house. So I made peace with the thought that it is in a shack that I am going to live forever.”
“But God is great, he widely opened his door for me. He opened the right door for me. I don’t know how to express my gratitude,” said an elated Kapetua yesterday when approached for comment.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of MGM Properties CC, Peter Mbutu, it would only take the company about two weeks to build the two-bedroom house with an open-plan kitchen and toilet.
The company uses mortar mix and mash (reinforcement iron bars to strengthen the walls) compared to the traditional way of using bricks. This type of method was also popular in neighbouring South Africa and Botswana as a way to provide affordable housing to the poor.
“People become very skeptical when they hear about affordable housing.
While other companies would ask N$185 000 for a two-bedroom house, excluding the erven, we will ask not more than N$55 000,” said Mbutu about his new project.
He said the project was a way to plough back into the community:
“I have grown up in Owambo location, and every time I go back to visit my people I find them in shacks. But most of us who have lived there and have become successful, have forgotten about them. This is not good. They are our people. We used to share salt and sugar. We need to go back and help them where we can.”
He said the company was able to construct all kinds of houses, including ‘double-storey’. The prices range from N$22 000 to N$300 000.
In addition, the company also builds schools and offices. However, its main priority is to provide housing for the poor.
“This could be done (construction of office buildings), but we want to empower those who don’t have a place to stay. That is the objective of our company.”
Mbutu said his company would also not ask for cash (deposits) from individuals, unlike in the case of other companies that ask for money before the initial construction, but that his company works through its lawyers and relevant authorities such as the municipalities, National Housing Enterprises (NHE) and financial institutions.
“We use our own money to put up the houses, and people can acquire financing for it. We don’t accept any money or deposits.”
He went on to say: “We are starting a company in the industry where people have negative perceptions about affordable housing. We are branded because of someone who did something wrong and we need to rectify this.
“Most people already have trust in us, that is why this place – referring to the show house – is full of people.”
The company has erected a show house situated at the corner of Andrew Mogale and Shanghai Streets, near Club Thriller in Katutura.
“In two weeks’ time, I am going to have my own house. This morning (Thursday) I was unable to eat because of this good news. I will only start believing it once I have seen the house,” said Kapetua.