Gogo’s dream becomes a reality
Ward 78 Clr Zanele Nyakale says the house will be handed over to the family next week Wednesday.
KwaThema – Gogo Kano Maria Masha’s dream of having her house renovated after the roof was damaged by a fire five years ago is coming true.
The renovations to her house are currently underway, which will see the roof, electrical wiring and plumbing being redone.
Since the damage in 2014, gogo and her grandchildren have been living in the partly dilapidated shadow of her former house.
Contractor from Matubeng Trading Mahlogonolo Phasha says they are currently working on the roofing, plumbing and electrical rewiring.
Also read: New house for Gogo after 44 years
“We have also built a fence and will install a security, tiling, ceiling, plastering, paving and change the windows,” he says.
Her story was published in the African Reporter on February 8, 2017, under the headline Gogo reaches out to community for help.
In a follow-up story, last year in February, mayor Mzwandile Masina visited the family and promised her that her house will be prioritised for renovations in the metro.
The story was published on February 20, 2018, under the headline Gogo’s prayers come true four years later.
The 67-year-old explained that in July of 2014 while she was sitting in the kitchen she smelled plastic burning.
“We did not realise what was already happening in another part of the house.
“Within a few minutes, the bedroom where the meter box in the house is situated had caught fire and there was smoke spreading throughout the house,” says gogo Masha.
Also read: Gogo receives house after 22 years of waiting
The pensioner braved the smoke and rushed to another bedroom before it caught fire to fetch her documents and then run out.
By sheer luck, some of her neighbours who saw the blaze ran to help while others called for emergency services to come and assist.
The speedy response of all parties involved managed to contain the fire, which only ended up destroying two bedrooms, the dining room and sitting room.
“In the hope of getting more assistance, I went to the local metro office numerous times, and though I was promised help, the only thing that happened was that part of the house’s electricity was reconnected,” she added.
Ward 78 Clr Zanele Nyakale says the house will be handed over to the family next week Wednesday.
