Three female headed households receive houses

In honoring women during this women’s month, the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) in partnership with the First lady Trust handed three houses yesterday at Tabudi village in the Molemole Local Municipality just outside Botlokwa.

The three families experienced different circumstances which led them to all be considered as those in need of housing assistance from government. The families were identified by the First Lady Trust under the leadership of the late Margaret Mathabatha who passed away recently following a short illness.

In preserving her legacy, the trust facilitated the handing over and involved donors to support the projects to take place in a month that is set aside to celebrate and acknowledge contribution of women in the country. The 40 square metres houses are painted, electrified and tiled which makes it memorable to the three households to own a dignified home which they will spend the night in for the first time.

For the Mathole family the housing application did not take long. They applied in February 2023 after their mother who was evicted by her paternal grandparents upon their return from Gauteng where they have worked and stayed for years.

In January she and her sister had to find a way to erect a structure that can be their shelter. This meant using plastics, boxes and few metal zinc which was as big as a size of a toilet. They had nothing to use expect for the clothes they were wearing and were forced to sleep on the floor without blankets.

“It was tough, my mother is mentally challenged, and I have a 2-year-old daughter. My sister and I had to find means to keep our mother safe because of her mental challenges. We are all unemployed and survives on child and disability grant. We had no where to go because our grandmother evicted us”. Said Makoma

It was in January when the local councilor identified them and other families to be beneficiaries of the 2023/2024 financial year that started in April.

In ensuring that beneficiaries don’t just get a house without necessities, the First Lady Trust ensured got donors on board by purchasing beds, wardrobes and curtains for all three families to allow them to spend their first night in a space that has dignity.

The three houses forms parts of the 245 which are to be finished before March 2024 but the contractor Ms Zorah Khan of Zorah Khan Developers has given MEC for CoGHSTA Mr Basikopo Makamu an update that 95% of houses are ready for beneficiaries to move in and only left with 64 which are under constructions and will be finished in September 2023.

“In the remembrance of the First Lady Mme Mathabatha, I commit to accelerate service delivery by ensuring that those deserving these houses get them. I will continue to support the trust and today is one of those day we pride in ensuring that people are treated with dignity and humanity” Said the MEC