Gogo’s home transformed by Kwa-Thema volunteers amid health, safety concerns

Kwa-Thema – In a heartfelt display of community spirit, residents of Kwa-Thema recently came together to clean and restore the home of an elderly woman living under challenging conditions.

The initiative was led by members of Masimini Isandla Soncedo, a local community outreach group, who identified the pensioner’s home on Kgaswane Street as needing urgent care.

“We found that the pensioner had tenants, and some of them did not take care of the property,” said Freedom Tshabalala, a member of the organisation.

He explained that the gogo was also in poor physical health and had been unable to attend her clinic check-ups due to mobility challenges.

“The house was in horrible condition, including structural damage. It was heartbreaking,” he said.

During the cleanup, the team also discovered that two young children living in the home did not have birth certificates, raising further concerns about their access to essential services.

Tshabalala emphasised that the situation requires intervention beyond just a clean-up effort.

“We are seeking assistance from the Department of Social Development. The overall environment in that home is not safe or sustainable for anyone, especially a frail pensioner and young children,” he added.

The community group is calling on government and private stakeholders to step in and provide additional support, from healthcare access to social services, to ensure the long-term well-being of the family.

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