Homes for the Elderly in Shongweni

The cold of winter is set to become a nightmare of the past for Agnes Ngitheni Ndlovu (68) who was given a house by eThekwini Municipality at Shongweni yesterday.

By: Sandile Lukhozi

Ndlovu’s house was blown away by the wind last year and had since been living in a collapsed house.

The handover was part of 67 minutes for Nelson Mandela day celebration of giving back to society. According to Chief Whip of eThekwini Municipality, Stanley Xulu, hearing the story of Ndlovu made them react fast.

“After we were told about the conditions she was living under, we worked tirelessly at ensuring that we build a house for her. We immediately worked on building the house and there was no perfect time to give her this house except for Nelson Mandela day,” Xulu said.

He told residents that building of houses is part of their strategy of ensuring that everyone has a house by 2030.

“This is one of many initiatives that we have put as a priority. We have identified human settlement as an important social need for people. The next 15 years will see a huge transformation of giving houses to needy South Africans,” Xulu added.

When receiving the house Ndlovu said she never stopped believing of owning a house again.
“I never gave up when I was told a house was going to be built for me, I had hope and today my hope and believing is finally getting rewarded,” Ndlovu said.

She promised to look after the house and not sell it in the future.

“I would look after this house as if it is the best thing I have ever owned. No window glasses or doors would be damaged,”she said.

According to Communications Manager of the eThekwini municipality, Sindy Mtolo, giving back to the community was the best way to celebrate Nelson Mandela day.

Speaking at the Community media connect for the city discussion at Suncoast on Thursday, Mtolo said: “ After several discussions as a region about how we should celebrate this day we decided to go back to people and give them houses”.