The Department of COGHSTA in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District, led by the Regional Director, Mr. Thabisho Cogang, embarked on a four-day community engagement session from Tuesday 13 August to Friday 16 August 2024, to introduce the Contractors appointed to build a total of 560 Breaking New Ground (BNG) houses, in the Joe Morolong Local Municipality. This is part of the 1 Billion Rand Presidential Housing Project, launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 18 January 2024 in the Northern Cape. This project seeks to fast-track housing delivery and address the housing backlog in the province. The following are the beneficiary communities of this project in the Joe Morolong Local Municipality: Gasehunelo-Wyk 5; Deurham; Loopeng; Padstow; Lotlhakajaneng; Segwaneng; Madibeng; Perth; Heuningvlei; and Makhubung. The Department was accompanied by the Mayor of the Joe Morolong Local Municipality, Councillor Dineo Leutlwetse-Tshabalala; other councillors, and the appointed contractors. The sessions also included the local traditional authorities as important stakeholders in the project. The contractors appointed for the project in the Joe Morolong Municipality are; KSTO Holdings; Sidlaphi Kgomo & Associates; Zabest Properties; and Molatebo Construction. Mayor Leutlwetse-Tshabalala's message to all contractors was that the quality of houses to be built must be of a high standard and the beneficiaries must be happy with the end product. She said ‘’As a government, we are not expecting you to cut corners and use low-quality material to build these houses, because our people need houses that will last forever as a legacy of this Provincial Government under the leadership of Dr Zamani Saul’’. The Mayor also pleaded with communities to work with the contractors and sub-contractors to ensure the projects are completed without delays. Mr Cogang said that jobs would be created for local communities and that the project would also ensure economic spin-offs for local businesses and entrepreneurs. All contractors for the project in the Joe Morolong Municipality, are expected to complete site establishments by the end of the week of 23 August 2024.