Every time it started to rain or the wind blows, Kesentseng Puleng (93) would sit up and pray hard that her make shift shack does not get washed away by the rain or blown away by the wind. Little did she know that the whirlwind of change, Setsokotsane that engulfed the area of Bona Bona (near Ganyesa in Kagisano-Molopo local municipality) in the middle of winter this year, would instead of blowing off her shack, bring her a new house.
Puleng (93) a widow who is also disabled and uses a wheelchair, has been staying in a dilapidated one room shack with her three children and 24 grand children and was identified as a deserving case for an emergency house during the Bokone Bophirima provincial government intensive service delivery programme, Setsokotsane.
The department subsequently committed to build the house for the family on an emergency basis, however, a good Samaritan, Mercycon Construction and Project which is based in Klerksdorp, got the news of the situation through the departmental social network site and immediately contacted the department, pledging to build the housing at own expense.
The furnished three bedroomed house consists of a kitchen and lounge, completely tiled on the floor and has a ceiling. To accommodate her wheelchair, both front and back doors have ramps. Since the area does not have bulk water and sewer connection, Puleng has been built a Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) which is also user-friendly (she will still be able to access using her wheelchair).
Handing over the house to the Puleng family on Monday, on behalf of MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements, Collen Maine, MEC for Social Development, Fenny Gaolaolwe, applauded the contractor for ‘extending a helping hand’ to the less privileged. MEC Gaolaolwe encouraged other businesses to work with government to alleviate poverty and develop the lives of the impoverished.
Rachel Molamu the Director of MercyCon Construction and Projects who also won the best woman contractor in the provincial Govan Mbeki Awards said it was not an easy project as acquiring and delivering material was a hustle as well is getting skilled labour. “The fact that I was ploughing back to a deserving family that keep me going, despite all these and many other challenges”, said Molamu.
Puleng who slept for the first in her new home couldn’t stop thanking the donors and government. Other additional items which were donated include curtains, blankets, carpet, clothes for the family, cutlery, gas stove and were provided with food parcels.
For enquiries: Mr. Ben Bole
Tel: 018 388 4824
Cell: 071 566 1399
Fax: 018 391 0328
E-mail: MSBole@nwpg.gov.za
