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Mom, 107, daughter, 84, get RDP houses

GRATEFUL GRANNIES: Liesbet Nkosi and her daughter Maria Meko moved into their two-roomed government house in Ekurhuleni this week. Pic. Sibongile Mashaba. © Sowetan.
GRATEFUL GRANNIES: Liesbet Nkosi and her daughter Maria Meko moved into their two-roomed government house in Ekurhuleni this week. Pic. Sibongile Mashaba. © Sowetan.

Sibongile Mashaba

Sibongile Mashaba

Liesbet Nkosi, 107, and her only child, Maria Meko, 84, have become homeowners for the first time in their long lives.

Mother and daughter are elated because they now each have a two-roomed RDP house at Chief Luthuli Park in Benoni, Ekurhuleni.

Nkosi said she felt as if she still lived under apartheid because life had not changed for her since the advent of democracy.

The women said they had been struggling to get houses for many years while living in shacks in Emaphupheni, near Benoni.

Nkosi, who is blind, said it was difficult for her to go to the local council offices to apply for a housing subsidy.

Meko said: "I am grateful for what the government has done for us. May God bless them eternally."

The plight of the aged women was first noticed by a young community-development worker, Million Zitha, who made it her mission to help the homeless women.

"I am so proud about what I did. It has made me more determined to continue helping more people," said Zitha.

She said that the first thing she did was get Nkosi a wheelchair.

Zitha said: "She complained that she did not have a toilet and that was when I understood her struggle. I decided then that I was going to help her."

Nkosi has three grandchildren, 10great-grandchildren and two greatgreat-grandchildren.

And, though she could not see her house, the smile on her face said it all.

Their neighbours were also delighted and said they would help the women settle down and help them with anything they needed.

Qedani Mahlangu, Gauteng's local government MEC, gave the keys of the houses to the grannies. The houses have to be upgraded and Nkosi's house does not have a bath.

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