eMBALENHLE – Gogo Matsie Mhlanga has been applying for an RDP house for the past 20 years without luck.
She is living in a dilapidated shack that floods whenever it rains, is very cold in the winter and very hot in summer.
The 78-year-old Gogo is disabled and said she was told that she was approved for an RDP house in 2003.
She said at some point she was told to dismantle her shack so that the house could be built and she did, but it never happened.
She said she fears that she will die and leave her four children homeless.
“I have been living in this shack with my grandchildren because I have nowhere else to go.
“I have tried to follow up on the matter until I got tired.
“No one is willing to help me.
“My son died in 2006 right after we were told to dismantle the shack so that they could build for us.
“They never came and when my son died, we did not even had a proper place to host people for the funeral. Twelve years later and I am still suffering.
“I do not know what to do anymore.”
The DA councillor, Ms Annitah Mkhwebane, has intervened to try and assist her to get a house.
She said on hearing about Gogo’s situation, she visited the family and was touched to see the condition of the shack.
“I then went to the Govan Mbeki Municipality to find out what was happening and the officials told me that Gogo was approved in 2003.
“They were not clear why her house is not yet built, but they promised to build it in January.
“Until today the house is not yet built and I would like to know why are they treating the old woman like this.
“The ANC led municipality is failing our people.
“I am calling on the municipality to intervene in the matter.”
