Tsakani – After 30 years of surviving storms and heat in a shack, the Mkhize family has received a new home. The family, who live in Tsakani Ext 8, recently received a newly built, furnished home from the United Africans Transformation (UAT) party.

Speaking to the African Reporter, Queen Mkhize said that they are happy with their new home.

She explained that the journey to getting a new home has been long, as their late mother had applied for an RDP home and was taken from pillar to post.

“Our mother tried so hard for us to have a home, but the process was long; eventually she passed. It is a bittersweet moment because she cannot see the new home that we received,” said Mkhize.

Mkhize shared that life in the shack was hard, especially during wet weather, because they have small children. She thanked the party for making their mother’s dream a reality and said they should continue helping those in need.

“To those who are waiting for their RDP homes, never give up because anyone can come and provide help,” said Mkhize.

UAT’s Lungani Shongwe told the publication the party first learned of the family’s circumstances during a door-to-door campaign in March, at the height of the rainy season.

What the team encountered was heartbreaking, with the family’s furniture submerged in water inside their home, leaving them living in unpleasant and unsafe conditions.

“It was a very sad and heartbreaking sight. Therefore, this motivated us to change their situation and provide them with a place to call home, as we believe that children deserve to be raised in a safe, healthy and dignified home,” said Shongwe.

Further assessments revealed that the household depended on two sisters, who could only secure temporary employment to support the entire family.

Shongwe said the party felt it was important to prioritise the Mkhize family’s situation, particularly because no family should have to wait more than three decades for decent housing.

He referred to Section 26(1) of the Constitution, which provides everyone with the right to access adequate housing.

Beyond building the house, the project ensured it was fully furnished, giving the family a chance to move into a home ready for them to begin a new chapter.

Shongwe said the party’s volunteers also contributed by offering emotional support, cleaning and preparing the house, and moving in furniture to create a warm, welcoming environment.

According to Shongwe, the project required various building materials, resources and collective effort to ensure that the family received more than just a roof over their heads.

He said the construction process, from laying the foundation to roofing and painting, was completed within four months. However, the family’s official move-in was delayed by inspection processes and the arrival of furniture.

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For Shongwe, the family’s story goes beyond one household, reflecting the struggles of many South Africans who continue to live in poor conditions without the support they desperately need.

“The Mkhize family’s story is the reality of most South Africans. Many families are living exactly like this, forgotten. Their pain is not isolated; it is everywhere, and it must end.

“Thirty years is a long time to wait for comfort, security and happiness. May this be a stepping stone to beautiful memories ahead. Continue to unite as a family. Today marks a new chapter,” he said.

He wished the family warmth, joy and many wonderful years in their new home, adding that they should always feel safe, valued and proud of the place they now call home.