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OR Tambo destitute elderly receive new houses from Premier Mabuyane 

EC Premier Oscar Mabuyane together with Human Settlements MEC, Ms Nonkqubela Pieters, handed over new houses to 2 elderly destitute women in Ingquza Hill Local Municipality on 19 August 2020. The dignity of the elderly women, who have suffered from being destitute and vulnerable has been restored. The handover formed part of the Premier’s visit to OR Tambo to assess the ongoing Provincial Covid-19 Response Programme.

Premier Mabuyane and MEC Pieters escorted the 83-year- old Albertina Matiwane from her rundown shack to her new house. As they took the short walk there was song and jubilation from those who attended the handover. “We are here today to honour the commitment made by President Ramaphosa. We are here to restore the dignity of women, to restore the dignity of these elderly women. We are calling on all men to respect women because of the great contribution women make in our society. We need to protect women, that is our message here today,” said Premier Mabuyane.

Albertina Matiwane from Ezintakeni Village had made a plea to President Ramaphosa, during his visit to the village, for a house as she had continually been attacked at her unsafe make-shift structure and raped. “I will never forget the President, what he has done for me, when I told him about my ordeal, he took action. I am so grateful for this new house, its warm and I feel safe here. I have scars from being abused and attacked but today, I feel happy this is a new life for me now,” said mama Matiwane.

The other beneficiary who received her new house is Mangxabane Pimpi, who is the grandmother of a child rape victim, Okuhle Pimpi. President Ramaphosa visited the family after the incident and made a commitment as government to the family of 16 members living under poor conditions, to restore their dignity by providing them with a decent shelter. “I want to thank government for everything today, I feel free in this new house. Thank you for assisting my family. We are in a battle as women and children, we do not feel safe,” said mama Pimpi. Houses are usually handed over without furniture, but given their most destitute state, the Department rallied sponsorships from the private sector for furniture and groceries for the families.

The families have benefitted from the Ingquza 301 Destitute housing project.  The project is for the destitute, focusing on the elderly, disabled, child-headed households and military veterans, at a cost of R45 million.

On 20 August 2020, Premier Mabuyane and MEC Pieters handed over more houses to destitute women in Qokolweni, in KSD Local Municipality.