The new political term has just started and already the mayor has carried out his first act in the position.
Mzi Khumalo, Executive Mayor of the Rand West City Local Municipality, has already made a difference in the life of one community member – not even a month after he was elected.
Khumalo handed over a new home to Hleliwe Gretta Dineka, an elderly Bekkersdal woman who has lived in a dilapidated shack for many years.
Her living situation was first discovered when families in need were identified to receive food parcels.
It was discovered that she was living in an L-shaped shack that was not properly closed. The matter was escalated to the municipality who wanted to make the shack more livable but the support they received made for a complete overhaul.
TEMI Construction got wind of the situation and decided to completely rebuild the elderly woman’s home.
Dumile Sithole, ANC councillor for the area, said the partnership with TEMI Construction has demonstrated that the way forward in addressing various issues in the community is to work with the private sector.
Freedom Hadebe, a well-known actor turned businessman, spoke on behalf of TEMI and thanked the team in charge of the project. He also explained how the initial idea was just to repair the shack, but later the team took it upon themselves to build an entire home.
Khumalo spoke just before the handover and said the house was being given in the spirit of former president Nelson Mandela, and as a late Mandela Day act. He, like Sithole, highlighted the importance of working with the private sector.
Dineka was so happy about getting her new home that she was in tears.
“They gave me so many beautiful things. I can’t believe it. I’m so happy,” she said.
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