A partnership between the Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements and private businesses has seen two destitute families from Empa and Qunu, outside Mthatha, receive newly built and fully furnished houses.
The houses were officially handed over to the two families by Eastern Cape Human Settlements MEC, Nonceba Kontsiwe, on October 24.
The beneficiaries were Sicelo Siyeke (65) of Qunu, and 55-year-old Nophakamile Makile of Empa village.
Siyeke, who lives alone and depends on a social grant, previously lived in a dilapidated and collapsed mud structure rondavel; while Makile previously shared a tiny shack with her six children and eight grandchildren.
Siyeke’s poor living conditions were brought to light through social media three months ago, when a user sought government intervention.
“I am lost for words. I never thought this day would come. My living conditions were so dire but now they have changed for the better and I have a roof over my head,” said Siyeke, upon receiving keys to his brand-new house.
Makile, meanwhile, said the intervention had come at their point of need.
“We were staying in a shack which posed a risk in our lives, especially to the children. A local church assisted us in making sure that our plight caught the attention of government, and with this intervention, our lives will change for the better,” Makile said.
Kontsiwe said the handover of the houses to the two families was in pursuit of their mandate to provide decent shelter for the destitute, elderly and people with disabilities.
“We are well on track in terms of pursuing our targets and our priority remains the destitute, elderly, people living with disabilities and military veterans. We want to ensure that we leave a lasting impact on the lives of the people of the province,” said Kontsiwe.
The Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements also partnered with private businesses which saw other contractors donating household items such as beds, kitchen cupboards, refrigerators and other household furniture to the two families.
