Families’ dignity restored through new houses’ handover

KGOBOKWANE/WAALKRAAL – The Moepye and Makgata families in Kgobokwane and Waalkraal villages respectively had to endure years of living without proper shelters.

The two families’ dignity was restored on 22 August when the Limpopo Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) handed over two new and fully-furnished houses to them.

Coghsta MEC, Basikopo Makamu, officiated the handing over of the houses to the jubilant families in the area of Moutse.

MEC Makamu expressed his gratitude to all stakeholders involved in the construction of the homes, stating that as the ANC-led government, they thank the stakeholders for their civic duty in building sustainable infrastructure and giving back to the most vulnerable among the community.

Makamu described the intervention as what the forefathers of their movement and government envisioned when they drafted the Freedom Charter.

He further emphasized the department’s commitment for the restoration of dignity to the two families. The Moepya family was handed over a six-roomed house while the Makgata family now owns a five-roomed house.

The families were identified during the 2024 national and provincial election’s door-to-door campaign by the ANC in the area.

Makamu indicated that through community work, activism and volunteerism, they were able to identify the families as needing immediate intervention. “I am happy that today, we are here to hand over fully-furnished houses for these two families. They can now have peaceful nights without worrying if the houses will fall in their sleep,” said Makamu.

Hilda Moepya, a beneficiary living with a disability and unemployed family members, has been staying in a dilapidated two-bedroomed house with a leaking roof for years.

“I don’t know how to explain how I feel. It’s more than a dream come true for me. We could not do this on our own. Thanks for giving us shelter and at the same time, restoring our dignity as human beings,” appreciated Moepya.

Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality Mayor, David Tladi, indicated that poverty, unemployment and inequality have a disproportionate effect on women. “We are restoring Mme Anikie Makgata and Mme Hilda Moepya’s dignity by handing over the keys because we know that enhancing a woman’s live benefits families, communities and our society as a whole,” expressed Tladi.

The families were also given blankets, with Hilda receiving an electronic wheelchair to aid her movement around her new house.