Partners in the housing venture are Habitat for Humanity and Edcon. Some of the houses to be built will be new and others will be extensions to existing homes with a maximum of 50 square metres. The five roomed houses will include a lounge, kitchen, bathroom, and two bedrooms.
Two pilot homes will be built in November 2006, the week leading up to the Metro FM Music Awards, one in Dispatch and the other in Uitenhage. The mayor of the NMBM, Nondumiso Maphazi, supports the project and has pledged to ensure sustainability of the venture.
In the run-up to the grand finale there will be a celebrity and VIP launch and a fund raising car wash event in Port Elizabeth, which will be capped by a public launch. The eventual winner of the music talent search auditions will record a single to be played on Metro FM. The new star will also perform at the final gala event in November.
The panel of judges is made up of the station's programme's manager Leo Manne, producer "Beatmaker" and artist/DJ Unathi Nkayi.
Metro FM Awards finalists will be announced on 12 October. The finalists must have released a full album. Categories are:
Best Female Vocalist
Best Newcomer
Best R&B
Best Kwaito
Best African Pop
Best Hip Hop
Best Gospel
Best Group
Best Compilation
Best Album of the Year
Best Song of the Year
Best Club DJ
Best Styled Artist or Group
Last year, Afro-Pop sensation Ntando was a big winner, scooping no less than four trophies including Best Male and Best Song. Other big winners from yesteryears include Mafikizolo, who won three awards including Best Group and Best Album in 2004.
