Calling for help to give woman (75) a new home
Currently living in a deteriorating shack that is built from wooden pallets and corrugated roofing, Elsie Sibanyoni (75) struggles to make ends meet every month.
The Etwatwa resident, who said she is in desperate need of a new house, relies on a South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) social grant and the charity of a new-found friend, who is now appealing for help to build Sibanyoni a home.
Rynfield resident Merisa Robbertze met Sibanyoni while she was working for another woman at Winterwood Estates, where Robbertze resides.
Robbertze would give Sibanyoni a lift whenever she saw her walking to and from the shops and, through them regularly seeing each other, a friendship evolved.
After 10 years as a domestic worker, the 75-year-old’s boss died and she was paid very little for her services by the deceased’s family.
Knowing the struggle that Sibanyoni was faced with, Robbertze took it upon herself to buy groceries and give Sibanyoni about R400 each month, for the past four to five years.
“We all need to help someone,” Robbertze said.
Robbertze also wanted to help Sibanyoni rebuild her home and called in a builder to assess the house.
The outcome was that a completely new house has to be built, with a proper foundation, in a separate part of the yard.
Sibanyoni has lived in her house since 1992 and would not like to move anywhere else, because that is the only home she knows.
Robbertze would like someone to assist in making this a reality, as she does not have the money to build the house for Sibanyoni.
“Will someone please help her? A person who is alive should not be living like this.” said Sarah Mota, who is Sibanyoni’s sister.
Robbertze said that all they want is for the elderly woman to have a house where she will be warm in winter and dry in summer.
“She doesn’t need a smart-looking house, she just need a proper house,” said Robbertze.
When it rains water runs into the shack due it being situated lower than ground level.
“In winter I get cold, in summer I get wet,” said Sibanyoni.
“I don’t have any nice things anymore; they are all damaged because of the water that comes into my house.”
Mota was thankful to Robbertze for helping her sister.
“She is so good to Elsie, Elsie needs all the help she can get, she has nobody,” she said.
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