Donations from committee members help rewire elders’ homes
Two homes were rewired through the funds which were raised by the Ward 74 committee members.
KwaThema – The two homes were identified earlier this year when ward councillor Thulani Semilani received complaints about the danger the exposed wires posed to the families.
Simelane says he could not believe the danger the two families were exposed to daily.
“I feared the elders might be electrocuted or trip and fall over the wires laying low and get injured in the process.
“I learned the families have been living in those conditions since 1952 when they were handed over by the apartheid government.
“It is alleged when they previously complained about this, they were told the company that was installing electricity could not help or there was no budget,” he says.
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Simelane says he approached different local companies working in the area for donations.
“We received enough funds to rewire both homes but could not afford to pay someone for the maintenance.
“One of the local electricians volunteered his services.
“We are grateful for the support we continue to receive from the local business people to help our people,” he says.
Electrician David Kabasa says he was touched by the stories of the two families and decided to help.
“These families’ lives were in danger because the house could have caught fire while they were sleeping or worse, get electrocuted,” he says.
Christinah Tshoane, one of the residents, says she is grateful for the rewiring.
“Through the years we had to live with the danger because we could not afford to wire the house properly and the municipality could not help.
“ Now I sleep without waking up in the middle of the night to check if the house is on fire,” she says.
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