It was all joy when a KwaDabeka (Clermont) pensioner, who is living with a disability, received a home after spending many years with no decent place to live.
A number of residents, mostly women, representing different church denominations, political parties and civil society, were part of the crowd that sang and ululated, while witnessing the handover.
Mama Pienaar's (as she is popularly known) problems started when her house was burnt to the ground in 2002. This forced her to live a life of a vagrant, making her vulnerable to criminals.
This drew the attention of local Councillor, Mr Sifiso Xulu, who approached a construction company, Stedone, to come to the rescue of Pienaar. The handover ceremony was then scheduled to coincide with the Women's Month.
Officiating at the handover ceremony, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Mrs Weziwe Thusi, thanked the local councillor for his "tireless effort in working for the community".
"What we are witnessing today is service delivery at its best. As government we congratulate this old woman who is receiving such a pleasant gift.
"We also would like to thank Stedone Construction Company for showing its caring side. Now we know that they are not only interested in money, but also care about the community in which they operate," said MEC Thusi.
She then urged all community leaders to make sure they make visible changes in the lives of the communities they live in.
Accepting the keys to her new house, Mrs Pienaar, who had one of her legs amputated and battles to speak properly, said she was grateful for what had happened. She added that she had given up hope that someone would ever come to her rescue.
"I have suffered a lot after I lost my house in the fire. I have had to be a nuisance to other people. I have also been a victim of crime on many occasions because I did not have a decent place to live in. I am short of words to say how grateful I am for what you have done for me," she said.
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