SHE practically lives on the doorstep of former president Nelson Mandela’s plush Qunu home but 84-year-old Noqondile Bida never had any reason to be comfortable.
Despite the proximity of her own home to that of the revered late icon, her life has been a mixture of daily struggles and poverty.
But that all changed yesterday when human settlements MEC Helen Sauls-August officially handed her keys to her new house.
The elderly woman was among seven other families who received their own RDP houses from the MEC yesterday to close off the Mandela month.
Mqadi, as the frail-looking Bida is affectionately known by her grandchildren and great grandchildren, could only utter three words upon receiving her keys and taking a tour of her new home.
“I’m alive again,” she said to loud applause from some of her neighbours.
Bida, who stays with her 26-year-old granddaughter Vuyokazi in two mud rondavels in Qunu, still bears the scars of an attack last year after a thug gained entry into one of the rondavels she was sleeping in.
Her right eye was gouged out by her assailant.
“We have never had a moment’s peace after the incident as we always fear that we might be attacked again at night,” said Vuyokazi.
“At least now we have a proper house thanks to government.”
Nophindile Nyoka, 59, and her family of 14 live in Machibini area in Qunu on a hilltop overlooking Mandela’s house.
The family was forced to share a single mud room after some of her houses were blown away by strong winds.
But she also had something to rejoice about when she received a new set of keys to her own home yesterday.
The seven houses form part of about 241 new RDP houses, which will be built in Mvezo, Qunu and Mqhekezweni where the later former statesman spent his early life.
Sauls-August said a sum of R35-million had been set aside to build 67 houses for destitute and vulnerable people in each of the three villages before the end of the year.
She also said they would be building about 1000 homes in the Alfred Nzo district, including in Oliver Tambo’s home village Nkantolo.
King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) mayor Nonkoliso Ngqongwa said the government was not merely building houses but was also providing homes for the destitute and the poor. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
Families rejoice with new homes
Despite the proximity of her own home to that of the revered late icon, her life has been a mixture of daily struggles and poverty.
But that all changed yesterday when human settlements MEC Helen Sauls-August officially handed her keys to her new house.
The elderly woman was among seven other families who received their own RDP houses from the MEC yesterday to close off the Mandela month.
Mqadi, as the frail-looking Bida is affectionately known by her grandchildren and great grandchildren, could only utter three words upon receiving her keys and taking a tour of her new home.
“I’m alive again,” she said to loud applause from some of her neighbours.
Bida, who stays with her 26-year-old granddaughter Vuyokazi in two mud rondavels in Qunu, still bears the scars of an attack last year after a thug gained entry into one of the rondavels she was sleeping in.
Her right eye was gouged out by her assailant.
“We have never had a moment’s peace after the incident as we always fear that we might be attacked again at night,” said Vuyokazi.
“At least now we have a proper house thanks to government.”
Nophindile Nyoka, 59, and her family of 14 live in Machibini area in Qunu on a hilltop overlooking Mandela’s house.
The family was forced to share a single mud room after some of her houses were blown away by strong winds.
But she also had something to rejoice about when she received a new set of keys to her own home yesterday.
The seven houses form part of about 241 new RDP houses, which will be built in Mvezo, Qunu and Mqhekezweni where the later former statesman spent his early life.
Sauls-August said a sum of R35-million had been set aside to build 67 houses for destitute and vulnerable people in each of the three villages before the end of the year.
She also said they would be building about 1000 homes in the Alfred Nzo district, including in Oliver Tambo’s home village Nkantolo.
King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) mayor Nonkoliso Ngqongwa said the government was not merely building houses but was also providing homes for the destitute and the poor. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
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