A pensioner shed tears of joy yesterday after her RDP house was rebuilt by the Gauteng government after Sowetan reported her plight.
Martha Thapedi, 65, applauded premier David Makhura, who was accompanied by MEC for human settlements Paul Mashatile to hand over the fully-furnished RDP house.
"I am thankful to Sowetan and our government. I am happy that the newspaper exposed my plight and government, led by Mr Makhura and Mr Mashatile, intervened quickly. Today I will be living in a new house with my family, unlike that small room we were crammed in," she said.
Mashatile said after reading the story he intervened and asked Motheo Construction Company to assist Thapedi in building her a new house.
Thapedi, who lives with her two unemployed daughters and eight grandchildren in Fine Town, south of Johannesburg, was left homeless on November 11 last year when the house was crushed by a huge tree.
At the time of the incident, Thapedi was not at home and only her daughters and grandchildren were at home when a strong wind started blowing.
Her daughter Segomotso said she was about to close the windows when a dark cloud covered their yard and she heard a loud bang.
Their house was flattened to the ground by a huge tree from their yard.
Segomotso was slightly injured in her leg. Thapedi and her family later stayed at a community hall, sharing a single room without privacy at the back of the hall.
Makhura said the gesture illustrated that his province was delivering on its promises.
"We want people to know they can count on the government in times of disaster. The media is an important tool that also assists us as government to assist where we are needed. There is no justification of destruction of property. Peaceful protests draw our attention," Makhura said.
ntwagaes@sowetan.co.za
Tears of joy over gift of RDP house
A pensioner shed tears of joy yesterday after her RDP house was rebuilt by the Gauteng government after Sowetan reported her plight.
Martha Thapedi, 65, applauded premier David Makhura, who was accompanied by MEC for human settlements Paul Mashatile to hand over the fully-furnished RDP house.
"I am thankful to Sowetan and our government. I am happy that the newspaper exposed my plight and government, led by Mr Makhura and Mr Mashatile, intervened quickly. Today I will be living in a new house with my family, unlike that small room we were crammed in," she said.
Mashatile said after reading the story he intervened and asked Motheo Construction Company to assist Thapedi in building her a new house.
Thapedi, who lives with her two unemployed daughters and eight grandchildren in Fine Town, south of Johannesburg, was left homeless on November 11 last year when the house was crushed by a huge tree.
At the time of the incident, Thapedi was not at home and only her daughters and grandchildren were at home when a strong wind started blowing.
Her daughter Segomotso said she was about to close the windows when a dark cloud covered their yard and she heard a loud bang.
Their house was flattened to the ground by a huge tree from their yard.
Segomotso was slightly injured in her leg. Thapedi and her family later stayed at a community hall, sharing a single room without privacy at the back of the hall.
Makhura said the gesture illustrated that his province was delivering on its promises.
"We want people to know they can count on the government in times of disaster. The media is an important tool that also assists us as government to assist where we are needed. There is no justification of destruction of property. Peaceful protests draw our attention," Makhura said.
ntwagaes@sowetan.co.za
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