Pensioner’s home is falling apart
The dire state of the elderly man’s house has forced him and his family to move out.
“It would bring me joy to see my house rebuilt before I die.”
These were the words of 71-year-old Sodosi Mdaweni of Daveyton, who’s appealing for help from the public to help rebuild his house, which has been on the verge of collapsing.
Mdaweni said his dilapidated house was built in 1994 but it started to fall apart eight years ago.
“The situation got worse in 2018, leaving me no choice but to abandon it because of fears that it would collapse at any time.”
Mdaweni said the dire state of his house has forced him and his family to move out of his house and move in with relatives who live a few blocks from his house in Lushaba Street.
“If I had the money, I would’ve fixed it myself but because my family and I survive on the pension money that I get monthly, it limits me,” said Mdaweni.
Ntsizwa Mahlangu, a member of a charity organisation called Daveyton StandUp alongside Sanco yabahlali Ukuzimisela VD, said they came across the dilapidated house while conducting their outreaches around the area.
“After discovering the house, we saw a need to reach out to the City Times to help publish the story so that the elderly man can get assistance. We have also reached out to the former councillor of ward 96 who promised to assist but didn’t.
“I think the house has been built in a wetland and builders probably didn’t do a proper analysis of the land because the house has now slanted to the side and it’s sinking into the ground,” said Mahlangu.
Another member of Daveyton StandUp, Thuli Makhosana, said as an organisation, they are passionate about helping people; hence, they have taken the initiative to try to find help for the pensioner.
Anyone who would like to assist Mdaweni can contact Mahlangu on 061 039 7925 or Makhosana on 074 546 5182.
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