Thulamela Municipality gifts house to unemployed mom

LIMPOPO – An unemployed single mother, Livhuwani Negondeni (45) from the rural village of Vhurivhuri-Ngwenani near Ha-Makuya was delighted to have received the keys to her very own four-roomed house, built and donated by Thulamela Local Municipality in coordination with private sector companies.

Handed over to her on Women’s Day, Negondeni said she used to pray to God to protect her, her two children and two grandchildren, especially on the rainy days where they used to stay in two separated mud huts.

“I’m a much happier woman today, because now I have a decent house, fully furnished, and I am able to sleep peacefully. In this village, many women depend on begging from others, or collecting wood from the veld and sell it to make a living,” she lamented.

She said she would celebrate Women’s Month proudly in the knowledge that there are still those who think about the plight of the poor.

Thulamela Mayor Athingozwidivha Rambuda, who was joined by Rofhiwa Manwadu of the Manwadu Foundation, representative of Makompo Holdings in Tshitavha, Tsha-Sambandou and Thovhele Gole Mphaphuli, said women are at the forefront of taking care of their families and as the local municipality, they encourage to identify other women-headed families who need help.

In handing over the keys, Rambuda said the gesture should encourage the children to work study hard as education remains the key to escaping poverty.

Mphaphuli said as traditional leaders, they are the custodians of the people, and therefore share in the joys of those who benefit from donations. He appealed to businesspeople whom they gave land to develop, to consider helping the needy in their areas.