MEMBERS of the police in Limpopo contributed money and handed over much-needed groceries, clothing and shoes to a destitute family of seven living in a makeshift shack in Burgersfort.
For months Sarah Mmeya (34) and her six children aged between three and 11 years lived in a makeshift structure which did nothing to protect them from the brutal elements, in Ga-Madiseng village near Burgersfort.
Mmeya said in summer, it was boiling hot and in winter it became freezing cold. “We all slept on a small piece of sponge only a few millimetres thick. There was no floor and we slept, lived and cooked on the ground. Neighbours and other residents tried to assist as best as they could, but also had very little to share,” she said.
Provincial police spokesperson, Col Ronél Otto, said the family’s problems exacerbated by the fact that Mmeya did not have an identity document and none of the children had birth certificates, meaning that they could not qualify for any grants.
“Early in May, a good Samaritan who was on his way to church saw the appalling conditions under which the family were living and couldn’t dismiss them from his mind. He contacted the local community newspaper and shortly thereafter an article about the family appeared,” Otto explained.
She said members working in the media centre, attached to corporate communications in the Limpopo police, read the article and felt that something could be done to assist the family.
“The article was brought to the attention of the provincial commissioner, Lt Gen Fannie Masemola, and he immediately requested the provincial head of ORS, Brig Nonhlahla Zulu to address the issue. Brig Zulu approached the Modikwa Mine management, and after visiting the family they were so touched that they immediately agreed to assist.
“A sturdier three-roomed structure was erected on the stand. They are further going to assist with providing the family with a proper toilet and ensure the area in and around the house is not affected by flooding again. A fence will be erected around the property, also with the assistance of the mine,” Otto said.
“Members of the police also jumped in with enthusiasm and contributed money or made donations to the family. This allowed the management of the police to hand-over much-needed groceries, clothing and shoes to the family,” she said.
Otto further said during the hand-over ceremony, Zulu ensured representatives from the department of home affairs and health, Sassa, and the municipality were present.
“They undertook to provide urgent assistance to the woman to obtain an ID document and birth certificates for the family in order to ensure they receive their grants,” she said.
“The municipality was not let off the hook and they promised to look into the possibility of building the family a proper RDP house,” she said.
Mmeya was totally overwhelmed with the assistance that she had received over the past few weeks.
“She could not wait to move her family into the new house and has to wait just a few more days for the new furniture to arrive,” Otto said.
Mmeya explained that she had lost her mother and was left alone with her children. She said they lived in her late mother’s mud hut until a huge storm annihilitated it.
The family said they were very grateful for everything that was done for them to live a normal life like any other people. Mmeya was so overwhelmed that she could just smile as tears of joy ran unchecked down her cheeks.
