Community spirit in action
Tsakane - Community members of Extension 12 in Tsakane cleaned Albert Mayika's (63) property on Friday after a resident saw the appalling condition in which the elderly man lives.
Mayika, who lives with his 16-year-old daughter, has no form of income and doesn’t receive a social grant like other senior citizens.
The Mozambican national came to South Africa as a migrant worker in 1958, working for a coal mine in Witbank.
He claims he has been applying for citizenship since but has been sent from pillar to post.
Neighbour Noxawe Malabela (43) says Mayika has been struggling for years.
“It’s worse now because he is ill and can no longer go out and do odd jobs for money,” says Malabela.
“Senior citizens like Mayika need to be taken care of by us as community members because they no longer have the power to take care of themselves.”
Local DA activists were present and assisted in cleaning Mayika’s home and also donated food parcels and clothes to him and his daughter.
DA Ward 84 chairperson Sibusiso Lukele (41) appealed to the community to continue to assist Mayika and his daughter until they get the necessary help they require.
“We will also continue to visit him and his daughter, and donate groceries,” says Lukele.
