THE lives of a destitute Limpopo family changed for the better after they were given a new house this week - coinciding with the goodwill spirit and events being held worldwide to mark Nelson Mandela Day.

Grace Rasealoka, 47, and her four-year-old daughter Mabu have been living in a dilapidated mud-house at Lephepane village near Lenyenye outside Tzaneen.

Both mother and daughter are paralysed, deaf and dumb. They depend on state grants.

But despite their predicament, thieves in the area often took advantage of them to steal whatever they had, leaving them with nothing to eat.

According to Fridah Rasealoka-Patji, sister of the disabled woman, Grace would buy 24 loaves of bread for her and her daughter when she got paid because she could not go to the local shops everyday.

"My sister would share the bread with her daughter until they ran out of stock.

"It would only be after the arrival of a family member that they would eat fresh food," said the sister.

The plight of the family was highlighted by SABC's Changing Lives, which had been informed by a local councillor in May.

Since then, the provincial department of cooperative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs had vowed to do everything in its power to build the family a proper house.

Firstly, the two were moved to stay with relatives in the neighbourhood while the house was being built for them.

With the help of Selby Construction, a prominent construction company in the province, the department managed to build a three-bedroom, fully-furnished house which it donated to the family yesterday.

Speaking during a handover ceremony, MEC Clifford Motsepe said it was part of his contribution to the 67 minutes dedicated to Mandela's legacy.

"As we celebrate the life and times of Madiba let us not forget to look after those with disabilities," Motsepe said yesterday.

He donated food parcels to the family, and also promised to work hard to ensure that the government got a school to accommodate Rasealoka's young daughter Mabu.

This was because it was discovered that she was responding well to the environment.

Local chief Mogotla Mogoboya said he was grateful for the donation given to the family.

Comments

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Fri May 24 18:31:42 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 19, 2012

lindsay

what happened to our communities where did the values of Ubuntu gone to, where a destitute person person won't be helped but robbed, our nation is dying slowly dying.
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Jul 19, 2012

WarrenG

@ lindsay
This is a little community, looks like a community of Dutch football fans...WC was so 2010...
but they still in the spirit...ah ...ok...Viva Bafana Bafana!!!
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Jul 19, 2012

Mygirl

Now they are going to steal more for them mark my words, Limpompo come on now buphi ubuntu just for once prove us wrong.
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Jul 19, 2012

Papage

We seem to do things for self Glory, Our Councilors are not doing their work.
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Jul 19, 2012

Skokho

How is this Motsepe's personal contribution of 67 minutes when he was only doing what is normaly expected of him - to provide shelter as part of his duties as an MEC. I am afraid he did nothing extraodinary here. If he pledged something for this destitute family out of his fat salay, perhaps that would be closer to personal contribution. Wake up Cliff....this doublethink is getting you nowhere. (read the sobering 1984 by George Orwell if you don't know what double think means - and I doubt you do). If you do read it, the resultant cognitive dissonance will deliver you from yourself.
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Jul 19, 2012

Idohl

Pic 3 says the house was donated by the mayor. Truth is he donated zilsh, nothing! Big up Selby Construction. That is if you did not recieve kickbacks.
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Jul 19, 2012

MommaC

Why must the media always have to come up with the story BEFORE anything gets done?

I'm delighted that they are being helped but with their disabilities they need much more than this. Hopefully the social services will do regular visits to help them.
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Jul 19, 2012

Bebesocs

Thank you to everybody who contributed to better the lives of these people, Yheey! our children need to learn more, but our children never think that tomorrow it could be them and it can come million times. At least MEC Motsepe has done something that he will be remembered with, this is what we can tell the nation in the morning, unlike another MEC standing next to the perinium of a teenager and tell the nation that he has made a difference.This is what we want to hear. Relatives must learn to take care of their beloved ones especially when they are disabled, this story saddens.
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Jul 19, 2012

shaharazad

The politicians have murdered Ubuntu eMzansi. I shudder at the thought of some unreported similar incidents
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Jul 19, 2012

LiLBeany10

tjo.....
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