DISABLED grandmother Dumani Cele, 75, will soon have a roof over her head for the first time in her life

Cele, of Esigungwini village in Phongola, northern KwaZulu-Natal, has been living in a rusty shack with five granddaughters.

Her plight was brought to mayor Bhekithemba Mncwango's attention when a municipal delegation visited her village to assess the damage caused by floods.

Cele, who cannot walk since suffering a stroke in 2008, depends on her neighbours because "her granddaughters neglect her and do as they please".

"I was lying on my mattress when the mayor visited. He promised to build me a house after seeing my leaky roof," Cele said.

"I was touched by the old lady's living conditions during a recent visit to Esigungwini. I decided to build her a three-roomed house. We expect the house to be finished by the last week of January," Mncwango said.

Neighbour Thobeka Sithole said the Cele family's troubles were known in the community.

She said Cele used all her pension money to support her grandchildren.

She claimed that Cele's granddaughters were neglecting her.