FOR the first time in 19 years Nomfundiso Thilivhali will sleep in a house.
FOR the first time in 19 years Nomfundiso Thilivhali will sleep in a house.
Thilivhali, 34, moved into her RDP house in Naledi Extension yesterday.
She had been living in a nearby squatter camp since 1990 with her husband and two children aged 14 and nine.
"I am so happy. Today I will sleep in my own house. I registered for it in 1996."
Thilivhali and her children had been affected by the cold weather in the shack they used to live in. "My daughter has bronchitis and my son was diagnosed with double pneumonia. It was a four-roomed shack and leaked when it rained. Our furniture was also destroyed ."
Thilivhali was among a group of about 20 people who moved into the houses.
Her friends and neighbours helped her move her furniture into the new house.
However, after the completion of the houses, the community of Naledi was angry because they thought they would be the ones moving in.
A few weeks ago the residents occupied the houses forcibly. The Red Ants were called in to evict them.
Police kept a strong presence yesterday to ensure that there were no disruptions.
Chairperson of the Naledi branch of Sanco, Gibson Lephalo, said: "We are not denying the people from the squatter camp the right to housing. What we are saying is that there should be communication.
"When the houses were built nothing was said. The community is in the dark."
M y own home at last
FOR the first time in 19 years Nomfundiso Thilivhali will sleep in a house.
FOR the first time in 19 years Nomfundiso Thilivhali will sleep in a house.
Thilivhali, 34, moved into her RDP house in Naledi Extension yesterday.
She had been living in a nearby squatter camp since 1990 with her husband and two children aged 14 and nine.
"I am so happy. Today I will sleep in my own house. I registered for it in 1996."
Thilivhali and her children had been affected by the cold weather in the shack they used to live in. "My daughter has bronchitis and my son was diagnosed with double pneumonia. It was a four-roomed shack and leaked when it rained. Our furniture was also destroyed ."
Thilivhali was among a group of about 20 people who moved into the houses.
Her friends and neighbours helped her move her furniture into the new house.
However, after the completion of the houses, the community of Naledi was angry because they thought they would be the ones moving in.
A few weeks ago the residents occupied the houses forcibly. The Red Ants were called in to evict them.
Police kept a strong presence yesterday to ensure that there were no disruptions.
Chairperson of the Naledi branch of Sanco, Gibson Lephalo, said: "We are not denying the people from the squatter camp the right to housing. What we are saying is that there should be communication.
"When the houses were built nothing was said. The community is in the dark."