PHOTO: Wellington Makwakwa
IT was tears of joy, then a celebratory dance for an eNseleni elderly couple, when uThungulu District Municipality Deputy Mayor, Thulani Mashaba handed them their new house keys.
Raymond Absalom Mthembu (64) and Dolly Bongiwe Masango (55) of Mkhoma Reserve sobbed uncontrollably, smiled and hugged Mashaba with gratitude.
The couple lost their home and belongs after it burned to ashes last year.
Masango and Mthembu told the Eyethu Bay Watch that their family struggled for months to put food on the table.
‘After our house burned down we didn’t have anywhere to go. We lost everything including our Identity Documents which, to make matters worse, meant that neither of us could re-register to receive our social grant. Life has been so tough for us,’ said the emotional couple.
Masango said she has been working in people’s gardens and homes to support her family.
‘I work wherever I get an opportunity, but sometimes it is difficult because I have epilepsy and can’t work all the time. I am grateful that my children and grandchildren will now have a place they can call home.’
Mashaba said the initiative was to restore the family’s dignity as part of his community outreach project.
The couple will occupy the five-room house with their four children and four grandchildren.
