Elderly women in Naauwpoort get houses during Nelson Mandela month
A 77 year old Naauwpoort woman, who has been staying in a shack for most of her life, has nothing but praises for the provincial government of Bokone Bophirima after she was given keys to her new house on Thursday at event to mark international Nelson Mandela month.
Seritshane Maditjane who is a mother of seven children survives on a monthly old age grant of over R1 500 and therefore could not have afforded to build her own house. Although she has her own place, in the form of a shack she relocated to stay with one of her children in the same neighbourhood.
“At my age, I felt it was not safe for me to stay in a shack, hence I decided to go stay with my child and her grandchildren.Now that I have a decent house that can withstand any weather conditions, I cannot wait to move into my new house’’, said Maditjane.
A similarly excited Dikeledi Molefe (60) a single parent of two who has been surviving on a disability grant was forced to stay in a shack after her mud house was destroyed almost 19 years ago. Molefe also could not contain her excitement after she was handed her house keys. “I have waited for this moment all my life. I will now sleep peacefully knowing that a have a decent roof over my head. Nothing beats the feeling of owning housing, finally’, she said.
Speaking during the handing over ceremony, MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements in Bokone Bophirima, Galaletsang Gaolaolwe, said the provincial government will continue to improve the lives of ordinary citizens, especially elderly women. ‘This we do in line with the promise we have made to the residents of Bokone Bophirima that we will ensure that there is housing security and comfort.The former President Nelson Mandela was very passionate about service delivery and we can only honour him by make sure that we deliver on our promises’, she said. MEC Gaolaolwe was accompanied by the Minister in Presidency, Susan Shabangu.
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