Nothembinkosi Nontsasa, an 80-year-old woman who has been finding difficulties in taking care of her six-member family with her old age pension in two crumbling one-roomed mud houses in Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Her children could not get ID documents and were unable to get social grants for her grandchildren.
With the kind intervention of Ingquza Hill Local Municipality and the department of Human Settlements and Home Affairs, Nothembinkosi Nontsasa has received a temporary housing structure and IDs for her family.
“I am beyond happy. My children finally have IDs. I believe they are on their way to making better lives for themselves. I am also extremely thankful that the mayor kept his promise to help me with housing. I will not feel the cold of winter anymore,” Nontsasa expressed her excitement .
Siya Qoza, spokesperson for former home affairs minister Siyabonga Cwele, said: “After reading your story… Cwele asked us to establish why the family wasn’t assisted and how we can assist them. Our department worked with the Ingquza Hill Municipality and Mayor Bambezakhe Goya to assist the family. As of today, the grandmother’s kids have been assisted through Late Registration of Birth. This process can take up to two months.”
The prefabricated structure which consists of two rooms and was assembled on site. Compared to what she was living in, Nontsasa describes it as a “palace”.
Ward councillor Thandeka Nzumo Dlibona said: “We realise that this is a temporary solution. This is the first step towards something permanent.”
