NATIONAL Women’s Day on August 9, 2021, will be etched in memory as a life-changing day for Nombeko Ntwenka (60), of Mbozisa location, outside Mthatha, after the United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) visited and spent the day with her, with a promise to build her a two-room brick and mortar house by the end of August.
Ntwenka is currently living in a tiny one-roomed mud structure with her five minor grandchildren, after her two-roomed house was destroyed by a storm that hit her village late last year.
Mbozisa location falls under Ward 34 of the King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) Municipality.
UDEMWO Eastern Cape chairperson, Nomapha Lupuzi, said they were alerted to Ntwenka’s home and her dire living conditions while on a campaign trail for a by-election in the area in June this year.
“After seeing and hearing from Ntweka herself about her situation, as UDEMWO, we started raising funds within the organisation and went outside as well to ask for donations so we could alleviate her plight.
“She told us that she had a two-roomed flat that she previously lived in that was destroyed during a storm and our commitment is to restore her dignity by building her a two-roomed brick and mortar flat that we plan to complete and hand over to her by end of August,” said Lupuzi.
She further said they had already secured a brand-new double bed that Ntweka will use in her new house and were now busy persuading businesses to donate furniture for the planned house.
UDEMWO, with its parent organisation the United Democratic Movement (UDM), have already managed to fence and till a garden for Ntweka.
Vegetables were planted on the garden on Women’s Day.
“I feel special and happy for the gesture by UDEMWO, as I really had no means to rebuild my house that was destroyed by the storm,” said a relieved Ntwenka.
Ntweka said her family survives on her old-age grant and the child support grants for two of her grandchildren.
