On Saturday, members of Bana Baleeto, a choir from KwaThema, swapped their singing voices for gardening tools.
Chairperson Joseph Mokotong, says the sight of Sandile’s home in White City section, which has overgrown weeds, prompted him to take immediate action.
“I called the choir members to come assist in cleaning this house, as our way of helping the community, because they are the one’s who come to support us,” said the chairperson.
Sandile Nkosi (53) has lived alone at his family home for many years.
However, he fell ill three years ago, and has watched his life and independence fade.
He has no income or social grant, and it’s good neighbours who make sure he gets something to eat.
Sandile says ‘he is too weak to walk next door and is unable to reach the local organisation which gave him food’.
His home has been vandalised by unknown people in recent years, who stole electricity cables, taps and even his toilet.
Another choir member, Mlungisi Sithole says he is Sandile’s neighbour. “It breaks my heart to see him in this condition, for years he’s been living in a house with no water or electricity even though we reported the matter to our councillor about two years ago.”
Ward 79 councillor Ivy Nkosi, said the man’s situation only came to their attention at the beginning of the year.
“In our attempts to help him, we discovered that the home he lives in belongs to his brother and we can’t do anything to the house until we locate him in Pongolo,” added Ivy.
