eMbalenhle family receives new home after shack burnt down

The Vukanini Taxi Association (Vukta) handed over a five-room shack for the Nhleko family in Ext 22, eMbalenhle, on July 29.

The family lost their two-room shack after it caught fire in June. Vumile Nhleko, a mother of three children, told the Ridge Times she was at work and her children at school when she was called and told that her shack was on fire.

She said the family lost everything, but she was thankful no one was inside when the fire ignited.

“I do not know what caused the fire, but my children and I had no place to sleep after the incident. I tried to use the same corrugated iron that burnt to rebuild at least one shack for us to have a shelter,” said Nhleko.

Vukta chairperson Fanyana Sibanyoni received the news about the Nhleko family’s problem while his organisation was donating school uniforms, shoes and sanitary towels to some schools in eMbalenhle.

Sibanyoni and his team then visited the family to assess how they could help and realised that Nhleko also rented the stand on which they had built their shack.

“After realising that the family challenges are worse than we thought, we decided to look for a residential stand for them.

“A businessman from the Azania informal settlement gave us a portion of his business stand on which we built this five-room shack for the family.”

Sibanyoni said the organisation also committed to employing the mother immediately at the eMbalenhle taxi rank so she can support her children.

Nhleko thanked Vukta for helping her and her family and said no one came forward to assist them after the incident besides her children’s school, the Alan Makhunga Primary School management, and Vukta.

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