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Local beneficiaries get keys to their new homes

Celebrations moved to a second stop in Molapo where the party unveiled the refurbished house belonging to the Metseeme family, three months after it caught fire, losing all their property and furniture.

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) PR Cllr in Ward 135, Dzunisani Baloyi handed over keys to the new homes of two elderly beneficiaries over the weekend.

On the backdrop of a new fast growing informal settlement, situated in Vlakfontein near Bramfisherville, Jaqueline Sheila Harnty (70) cut the ribbon into her new wendy house.

Harnty walked into her new home after Cllr Baloyi handed over a newly built structure for the pensioner who was allegedly threatened with eviction after the house she was residing in which belonged to her late partner in Protea Glen was sold.

ALSO READ: Johannesburg Older Persons Forum hand over memorandum of demand

An overjoyed Harnty said she had been worried that she would be homeless as she was given a short notice to find alternative accommodation before they evict her.

Work pictured at the Molapo home during the revamping stages.

“I only learnt through agents that I needed to move out of that particular house as the house was already sold while I was still there. It has been stressful,” said Harnty.

“I slept like a baby here on my first night. As a pensioner and in my elder years, it was my biggest worry, constantly worried about where I would go as I relied on my pension but at least today this place here is mine.”

Baloyi, who oversaw the completion of the project, said they were thrilled to be able to deliver on their promise. Last month, Baloyi led a housing indaba following a spark of evictions in ward 135.

“We are happy to be able to deliver this house to one of our senior citizens. She relies on grants, so for us renting for her was not an option. We found this piece of land and began construction over a week ago.

“We had a mini solar system for power and running water which is within her yard. We are happy that today she has a place she can call home rather than left out in the street.

“We have to make sure that old people are taken care of. These are the people that we need to take care of all the time.”

ALSO READ: Residents march to hand over memorandum to station commander

Celebrations moved to a second stop in Molapo where the party unveiled the refurbished house belonging to the Metseeme family, three months after it caught fire, losing all their property and furniture.

Jaqueline Sheila Harnty (70) pictured inside her newly built wendy house in Soweto.

The project was undertaken by Nkwaana SS Projects, a local contractor which covered all costs to refurbish the house, plastering and repainting, installing new windows and doors.

Baloyi said, “This is one thing that I want to grow, we have begun to establish a team of local business people that I work together with. It’s not the money that comes from my pocket but it comes from our own black owned businesses in the township that have made both these projects a success.”

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