A Katlehong family’s hope for an RDP home has been flushed down the drain following the passing of Nomthandazo Mbatha (66) from Mofokeng Section who needs her RDP house.
Nomthandazo was admitted to Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital when she went for her check-up on May 27.
She died on the morning of June 5, around 06:00, following a long-term illness. She was laid to rest at Skumane/Thokoza Cemetery on June 18.
Before her passing Nomthandazo’s ultimate wish was to provide a home for her children and grandchildren.
She amplified this message to the Human Settlements Department months before her death when she noticed her condition was becoming critical.
Nomthandazo lived in a two-room shack with her six grandchildren, aged between seven and 32, of which four of the youngest are still attending school.
She applied for an RDP house in 1997 and followed up on her application over the years until she lost her ability to walk in 2020.
Nomthandazo previously told Kathorus MAIL that they are convinced the mix-up of dates on their application is the reason they are still without a suitable home.
Her grandson Bafana Mbatha (24) said the Human Settlements Department was reluctant to assist the family.
“We sent them an email and it took two months to respond. They wasted more time before they even went to see gogo,” he added.
“When they finally visited gogo they did not talk to her, they only took photographs of her, and they did not engage with her nor check the document which they were meant to rectify.
“They took forever to visit gogo after we called and sent emails but after she died, they were quick to inform us that we will no longer get the house because gogo died before signing the housing subsidy document,” said Bafana.
He said this also happened to his late mother who died before getting her house.
He said he is not sure how they will manage to pay rent. His elder brother Jabu Mbatha will start collecting the children’s social grant and communicate a way forward with the landlord, he explained.
Kathorus MAIL could not reach Jabu at the time we went to print.
Kathorus MAIL constantly followed up with the department informing them about Mbatha’s concerns and updating them about her health condition before her death.
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