Elderly Phola resident receives new house on Mandela Day

In honouring the late former state president and father of the nation, Tata Nelson Mandela, member of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature and deployee within the Hazyview parliamentary constituency, Pat Ngomane, delivered a brand-new house to Mkhulu Simon Letswele.

Letswele, an elderly citizen who used to live in a dilapidated shack in Phola, is still counting his lucky stars after his life changed for the better following this gesture by the ANC on Monday July 18.

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Letswele was identified during the ANC’s 2021 local government elections campaign in Ward 5 by the members of the ANC and members of the community.
Ngomane, who led the handover, said that the ANC has kept its promise to Letswele and will keep its promises to more families in need.
“We promised this elderly man a safe house last year and we are happy to hand it over to him on this special day. We believe that we will be able to help more families after this project,” said Ngomane.

“More families have been identified in Phola and we will keep on researching on how our disadvantaged can be helped. Moreover, as the ANC we would like to encourage our communities in Hazyview to elevate young people’s lives,” Ngomane added.

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Speaking to Mpumalanga News, Letswele said he was over the moon about his new gift, courtesy of the ANC. “I used to live in a shack that was in a very bad condition. When the ANC members came to my house while campaigning for elections, I told them that I was in need of a house. I am happy that they kept their promise. Life will be so much better and I am happy that the next winter will not be too harsh for me because I will be in a warm home,” said the jubilant Letswele.

He also applauded the ANC for the groceries it donated when handing over the house.