It is a great honour for me to be in this beautiful province of the Free State today. This is a place where, 107 years ago, South Africans gathered to imagine a new society that would indeed be united in its diversity. More than a century ago, our people envisioned a new nation that would put discrimination and racism behind it and build a democratic and prosperous society.

1. ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA AT THE LAUNCH OF THE HILLSIDE INTEGRATED HUMAN
SETTLEMENTS PROJECT
BLOEMFONTEIN, FREE STATE
26 OCTOBER 2019
Premier of Free State, Ms Sisi Ntombela,
Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu,
Deputy Minister David Mahlobo,
Members of the Executive Council,
Executive Mayor of Mangaung, Cllr Olly Mlamleli,
Military Veterans,
Distinguished guests and people of Free State,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great honour for me to be in this beautiful province of the Free State today.
This is a place where, 107 years ago, South Africans gathered to imagine a new society that would
indeed be united in its diversity.
More than a century ago, our people envisioned a new nation that would put discrimination and racism
behind it and build a democratic and prosperous society.
When we ushered a democratic government in 1994, one of our firm commitments was to fulfil the call
in our Freedom Charter that all South Africans should enjoy housing, security and comfort.
This call found expression in our democratic Constitution, which affirms the restoration of the dignity of
our people through human settlements.
Without a decent roof over one’s head, there is no place to call home and there is no foundation on
which to build a community or a nation.
The democratic South Africa has over the past 25 years created over 4.4 million housing opportunities,
providing decent shelter to millions of South Africans.
It is worth noting that when the democratic government started providing houses to poor families, there
was a backlog of just over 2 million housing units.
Our population has since grown and this has put enormous pressure on government to promptly
respond to the changing housing needs of our people.

2. We are having to achieve more within limited financial resources.
As a society, we must prioritise housing for those most in need, including the elderly, child-headed
households, people with disabilities and military veterans.
In providing housing for our military veterans we are not only meeting a pressing need; we are also
demonstrating the nation’s gratitude for the heroic and selfless sacrifices they made to ensure that all of
us live in a free country.
To our veterans, we say: we respect and appreciate your contribution to our freedom and we value the
contribution you continue to make to communities as you apply your wisdom and discipline to build our
social fabric.
Distinguished Guests,
Today, we are celebrating with the people of Mangaung and the people of the brand-new community
we are establishing at Hillside View.
We grow South Africa together by creating spaces where households and communities can thrive and
where housing units are integrated with other social amenities.
We have just handed over houses to a number of beneficiaries at Hillside View.
One of the beneficiaries is Ngkono Matokelo Taole, who has a new place to call home at the advanced
age of 99.
She will no doubt emerge as Mayor of Hillside!
We wish Mama good health and good friendships in Hillside.
While I was happy to hand over the keys to her, I was reminded that there are scores of other elderly
people across the breadth and length of our country whose lives have yet to change for the better.
Our government will not rest until the dream of providing housing for all is fulfilled.
Minister Sisulu indicated to me that one of her priorities is to clear the backlog of senior citizens needing
housing in the shortest time possible.
This commitment by Minister Sisulu on behalf of the Human Settlements family should be supported by
all of us.
The strength of our society is tested by how well we regard and care for the most vulnerable among us.
Homes we provide at Hillside and elsewhere must be the beginning of integrated and holistic
communities built for sustainability. The creation of a nurturing environment is intrinsic to the work of
our government. Integrated and sustainable human settlements must make provision for economic
transformation, job creation, poverty alleviation, education and skills development, and safety. This

3. logic drives the recently-adopted District Development Model, which seeks to develop single
development blueprints for the 44 districts and 8 metros in our country. These blueprints are being
developed collectively by the three spheres of government as well as business, labour and communities
in the respective districts.
This approach to development ensures that developmental silos are replaced with single, integrated
views on what is needed and what will work best in the areas concerned. This approach gives effect to
government’s commitment to social cohesion and safe communities through socially integrated human
settlements. This is well illustrated in the mixed housing development at Hillside View where we have
different housing typologies. Hillside View is a showcase for our Breaking New Ground strategy, which
promotes an integrated society by developing sustainable human settlements and quality housing
within a subsidy system for different income groups. Breaking New Ground updates our RDP model,
ensuring that housing is delivered in settlements that are both sustainable and habitable. Breaking New
Ground integrates subsidised, rental and bonded housing.
It combines different housing densities and types, ranging from single-stand units to double storey units
and row houses. In addition to housing, this approach includes the provision of facilities such as schools,
clinics and economic opportunities.
Hillside View is within reach of an industrial site and amenities such as Vista University, churches,
schools, clinics, sports and recreational facilities.
But Hillside View’s most important asset is that it enjoys the support of the community it serves.
We thank the residents of Mangaung for having walked this journey with government and for making
sure that Hillside View is where and how people want to live.
While we have reason to celebrate the launch of a housing project here, we are also sensitive to the fact
that Mangaung has been experiencing drought and severe water restrictions over the past six years.
Dam levels in the Bloemfontein Water Supply System remain low.
To relieve the plight of residents and businesses in Mangaung, we have established a task team
consisting of the Department of Water and Sanitation, the Mangaung Metro Municipality and Bloem
Water to manage government’s response to the drought situation.
This response includes the construction of a pipeline from the Gariep Dam to Bloemfontein to augment
the supply to the Bloem Water Supply System.
While this work is underway, all of us carry the responsibility to save water, not just in Mangaung but all
around our water-scarce country.

4. Today, we are enabling lives with the launch of an integrated human settlement and the handing over of
title deeds.
Title deeds are a vital asset that should benefit our people for generations to come.
This is a day for celebration.
Let us take care of ourselves, of our neighbours and of the amenities that are here for everyone’s
enjoyment and development.
Let Hillside View stand as an example of what is possible when we all work together to build better and
more prosperous communities.
I thank you.