​Rofhiwa Marubini 
The Gauteng Provincial Government urges citizens who quality for serviced stands to register at their nearest Department of Human Settlements support centre.
The serviced stand programme seeks to address the housing backlog by providing home-seekers serviced stands to build houses for themselves.
These stands are provided as an option for non-qualifiers within the National Housing Code: Integrated Residential Development Programme (IRDP), Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme (FLISP), individual subsidies as well as Informal Settlements Upgrading Programme (UISP).
Government provides basic services such as water, electricity, sanitation and roads and the owner of the property then builds their own home.
On Wednesday, Premier David Makhura together with MEC Lebogang Maile and Merafong Mayor Maphefo Mogale handed over 495 serviced stands, as part of the iKageleng Land Release Program.
The team also handed over 195 furnished housing units and 500 title deeds to military veterans in Elijah Barayi Village. 
One of the beneficiaries, Bongiwe Bemzana, expressed joy as her days of renting are over.
"I'm very happy about the house. I have been waiting for the house for a while and I used to stay at a rented place in the Ma_Xhosani township," said Bongiwe.