Canaan Mdletshe
Canaan Mdletshe
A Pietermaritzburg family is still waiting for the house promised to them by the provincial social development MEC Meshack Hadebe five months ago.
The destitute family is still living in a dilapidated mud house.
Hadebe made the pledge after Sowetan published a story about the plight of the Magwaza family from Mpumuza, outside Pietermaritzburg, in February.
At the time, the mother, Jabulile Hadebe-Magwaza, 54, who is disabled, said her five children had dropped out of school because the family was poor.
Hadebe secured a disability grant for Hadebe-Magwaza and helped the children to return to school.
Hadebe-Magwaza said yesterday that she was allocated a site and tractors had started clearing the land, but someone had threatened her.
"He told me the land belonged to him and I have no right to build on it without his consent.
"I explained that Inkosi Nsikayezwe Zondi had given us the site, but he threatened me with death," she sobbed.
She said she consulted local councillor Dolo Zondi but he was of no help. Zondi's and Hadebe's phones were switched off, but departmental spokesman Mandla Ngema said if the land was a problem, they would get another site for the family.
"We were not aware of the problem and promise to get in touch with the family and get them another site to build on," Ngema promised.
Long wait for house continues
Canaan Mdletshe
Canaan Mdletshe
A Pietermaritzburg family is still waiting for the house promised to them by the provincial social development MEC Meshack Hadebe five months ago.
The destitute family is still living in a dilapidated mud house.
Hadebe made the pledge after Sowetan published a story about the plight of the Magwaza family from Mpumuza, outside Pietermaritzburg, in February.
At the time, the mother, Jabulile Hadebe-Magwaza, 54, who is disabled, said her five children had dropped out of school because the family was poor.
Hadebe secured a disability grant for Hadebe-Magwaza and helped the children to return to school.
Hadebe-Magwaza said yesterday that she was allocated a site and tractors had started clearing the land, but someone had threatened her.
"He told me the land belonged to him and I have no right to build on it without his consent.
"I explained that Inkosi Nsikayezwe Zondi had given us the site, but he threatened me with death," she sobbed.
She said she consulted local councillor Dolo Zondi but he was of no help. Zondi's and Hadebe's phones were switched off, but departmental spokesman Mandla Ngema said if the land was a problem, they would get another site for the family.
"We were not aware of the problem and promise to get in touch with the family and get them another site to build on," Ngema promised.