A woman whose life was shattered after a robbery in 2013, has to pick up the pieces again since she now lives in a shack.
This mother of a Grade 12-daughter and Grade 3-son, has to make ends meet after the building of a house in Jabavu Section, Sakhile literally fell through the cracks.
Her journey began when she lost her baby during an assault, and the wounds were reopened again when a television crew arrived to ask forgiveness, on one of the culprits’ behalf.
According to her, a contingent of the Women’s League of the ANC then enquired as to how they could help her.
“I was traumatised after losing my baby, while six-months pregnant, and asked them to repair the roof of my house,” she said.
This old family house needed fixing.
In the end the league returned and offered appliances such as a deep fryer and popcorn machine to the woman who runs a small mobile kitchen.
According to her, the women undertook to discuss the house problem among themselves and after several days, she was introduced to a contractor from Malawi, allegedly.
The league and the contractor did not contact her again and it was only in July last year, when the schools reopened, that a call was received.
According to her, a man said the contractor wanted the house to be demolished and she was also told to find people to help to demolish the structure.
A crew from the contractor demolished the house the following day.
She was again asked to find people to build a temporary shack, which she agreed to, and her shack was built.
“They promised the house will be built quickly because of my condition,” she added. She has been to a doctor and has a stomach tumour, aftermaths of the attack.
She tried her utmost to establish contact with the women and contractor.
“I have tried to call them, to no avail,” she said. They have blocked their numbers on my cell phone.”
Her current dwelling is for starters, way too small and stays wet after rain and as for making a living, she can’t cook anywhere since the yard is full of stones, with the electricity meter box, covered with plastic, lying outside. All her furniture has also been damaged by water.
She has however, managed to contact the middleman in the telephonic arrangements and he said he will report the matter.
A visit to the municipal offices, looking for her councillor, proved fruitless as well.
