News — 27 November 2012
Premier brings back family’s dignity

The premier of the Free State, Ace Magashule, has donated a furnished house to a 92-year-old woman who was sharing two shacks in her yard with 21 people, including children, grandchildren and great-grand-children.

The visibly overwhelmed and shocked, Martha Nomandla, entered her new 60 square meter (m²) house for the first time on Monday afternoon, during the official handover of the house that was built by the provincial government in the newly developed area of Gelukwaarts, Kroonstad.

Nomandla told Magashule that she had never owned a house before apart from the two shacks. She said her family can now finally have a place they can all call “home”.

“We didn’t have privacy sharing two shacks with so many people. I didn’t believe it when the government promised to build me a new house. I am moving into this new house with part of my family. Others will remain at (the shacks).”

Magashule, accompanied by his cabinet and government officials, promised to have the two shacks removed to pave way for a new house for those staying behind.

“She was not on our housing waiting list. I was doing a door-door visit two years ago when I saw their plight. I promised that we would build her a house and today we have done just that. I know that there are many others in the province in similar situations and we will still attend to them,” said Magashule.

Meanwhile, earlier during the same day, the premier had handed over another house in Matlwangtlwang, Steynsrus, to a blind 85-year-old man who had been waiting since his house was demolished in 2009.

The family of Elliot Monaheng Masooa was more delighted to set foot in the new house that they were in 2009 when they heard that they were going to receive a new house.

“It has been three years of waiting for the new house, and now we can happily smile and say we thank you (Magashule),” said Masooa’s excited daughter, Mapolo.

Eight more houses with solar geysers; solar panels for lighting, as well as Jojo Septic Tanks were also handed over to residents of Jaskraal farm in Steynsrus on the same day. The houses were also built after the residents’ request to the premier during his 2009 Operation Hlasela visit where he demolished all eight mud houses at the farm.

After cutting ribbons and handing over the houses, the MEC for human settlement and corporate governance and traditional affairs, Olly Mlamleli urged the recipients to take care of their newly acquired assets.

“These houses are for you, your families and your descendants, and if you don’t look after them, there will be nothing else left for those coming after you in your family. We should be proud of them and protect them,” said Mlamleli.

Related Articles

Share

About Author

Nic

(0) Readers Comments

Comments are closed.