Blind woman (74) asks for safe, dry home
"All of my furniture including my only bed is soaked with water. My son and I have been struggling the whole morning to try and make a plan to dry my furniture and stop the water from flooding my home."
LIMPOPO – These were the powerless words of a 74-year-old blind woman, Martha Mojoto.
Mojoto has lived in her shack in Masodi outside Mokopane for the last nine years, but last Friday afternoon her son, Frans (37), invited Bosveld to come and see first-hand the damage the rain has done to her house.
Bosveld received a warm welcome from residents at the Mojoto house. However, to get to Mojoto’s house, a stream that had formed due to the heavy rainfall had to be crossed, followed by a muddy open stretch of ground.
Frans, who lives in Pretoria, said he was very glad he decided to visit because when he arrived at her home it looked like her house was drifting in the middle of a dam. “I had to battle through the water to get to her house and when I entered, the level of the water was already knee high,” he said.
“I could have literally swum into the house and the street outside looked like a river.
“This situation is extremely upsetting as I dread to think what could have happened had I not arrived,” he continued.
Mojoto said local government representatives have paid her numerous visits and she has been promised an RDP house on several occasions in the past, but so far nothing has come of the promises.
Her son said he could not leave his mother in this situation.
“It is definitely going to rain more today, and it could continue for some time.
“My mom is truly an inspiration and has worked for 45 years, since she was 13 years old. About 10 years ago she lost her sight due to diabetes but she did not let it get her down and she still praises God daily for everything she has. I pray she will be blessed with a house as she really deserves it,” Frans said.
Mojoto said she dreams of living in a house where she did not get scared when it started to rain. “I plead for assistance from the Mogalakwena Municipality,” she added.
Municipal Spokesperson, Malesela Selokela recently told Bosveld all 32 municipal councillors have submitted lists of the names of residents who are in need of RDP houses.
“The list will now be referred to the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs for further action,” he said.
