Family in desperate need of house
Thembelihle Cele said they have never received help from the municipality or any government sector.
After floods destroyed their home in 2021, eight members of the Cele family from Nyangwini area in Mtwalume have been living in a one-room house.
Thembelihle Cele (33) said no one in the family is permanently employed and that they survive on the child grant they receive. Also, her three brothers cannot afford to help because they work casual jobs and the money they make is not enough.
She said along with her brother, they have applied for a RDP house many times but it seems like they do not qualify.
“We have never received help from the municipality or any government sector but they are aware of our predicament because they took pictures after the floods and promised to come back.”
She said when it rains they have to place buckets around the house as the roof leaks, and when it’s windy they don’t sleep as they are scared the house might be blown away.
The spokesperson for Umzumbe Municipality, Sabelo Ncwane, said the municipality is aware of their situation.
“They did apply for an RDP house but they did not get it. This means that the municipality has to follow up with the Department of Human Settlements.”
Ncwane said the Celes might have to reapply for an RDP house.
He said in the meantime they will try to intervene as quickly as possible to try to get them a temporary structure.
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