A 105-year-old homeless Makhanda woman has been promised her first RDP house by a private construction company.
Nonzima Lizi Magamle, was born on March 16 1914.
She has been living at her granddaughter’s house for 20 years, ever since she was forcefully removed from a farm in 2000.
Magamle’s granddaughter, Khangelwa Heshu, 30, made a passionate plea on social media for her gogo to get a home.
On Monday, Heshu said: “It broke my heart that despite applying for a house for years, she was overlooked.
“We are grateful to MMS Development for the pledge to build my gogo a home.
“Her dignity will be brought back.”
MMS Development CEO Landi Kieck made the announcement at an RDP housing event held at the East London Golf Club on the weekend.
She made the announcement after hearing about Magamle’s plight from the Dispatch.
At the function attended by government officials, MMS made a commitment to build an extra house to be given away for every 100 RDP homes completed for the department of human settlements.
Kieck said the company had a contract to build houses for human settlement, and had built and handed over 1,360 houses so far in the province. The completed houses are in Egoli phases 3 and 4 in East London, Ndakana in Stutterheim, Phakamisa in King William’s Town, Zimbane in Mthatha and Sterkstroom outside Komani.
Kieck said the company was giving back to the community as part of its social responsibility programme.
Kieck told the Dispatch on Monday that the gogo’s house would be built in 60 days.
“It really makes us feel good to be part of something special. We will liaise with them and then get the ball rolling.”
Kieck said the company had already built two social responsibility houses. While human settlement provincial department spokesperson Simthandile Ford commended the company’s effort, she said there was no standing arrangement between the department and MMS over the donation of houses.
Among those who attended the event from human settlement were senior quality assurance official for Amathole district region Khaya Cweba and BCM project manager Jo Mandila...