Pretoria – Destitute villagers of Seolong outside Rustenburg in the North West will soon have roofs over their heads, thanks to Madiba’s legacy.
A team of volunteers, led by the MEC for Provincial Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison, Desbo Mohono, dug foundations for the start of the construction of 50 houses for people with disabilities, child headed families and the elderly.
This was done through the campaign, Take action, inspire and change, aimed at celebrating the 93rd birthday of former President Nelson Mandela.
Mohono and the mayor of Moses Kotane municipality, Fetsang Mokate-Thebe, began by distributing blankets to 40 senior citizens before digging the foundations of the housing development project, with a total cost of R3.2 million.
The two also donated wheelchairs to 71-year-old Johannes Mosoki and 58-year-old Sydney Mfelang.
Mohono and Mokate-Thebe were also joined by local traditional leader, Kgosi Ntefang Sefanyetso, when they spent most of their 67 minutes digging a foundation of the house of 75-year-old beneficiary, Dikeledi Ditau.
“I’ll always treasure and remember Madiba’s 93rd birthday celebration as I’ve always been longing to have a proper house which I could call home. We are excited that government under President Jacob Zuma is compassionate to us and advancing Madiba’s legacy,” said the blind Ditau.
An emotional Ditau, who lives in a mud house, could not stop singing praises about how great Nelson Mandela is.
According to MEC Mohono, the 67 minutes spent making a difference in people’s lives signifies what the former president stood for.
She described Mandela as a man of stature, who has displayed his selflessness to the people of South Africa and the entire world.
Villagers, especially elders, came in numbers to witness and also give a hand in the casting of foundations.
MEC Mohono further called on beneficiaries to take care of those houses upon completion, as they will be a symbol of the efforts made by Mandela during his active participation in politics.
“We must remember what Mandela did and live by his examples. We are lucky as South Africans to have such a great leader in our country, who is also recognised internationally. Let’s embrace his good will and live by it,” she said. – BuaNews
