Ivory Park woman (84) lives in rodent infested shack
'Life is difficult, and to watch my grandchildren suffering like this with no proper shelter breaks my heart.'
An elderly woman from Ivory Park Extension Two is suffering because contractors who promised to build her an RDP house failed to do so and she was left living with her family in poverty.
Now, however, the 84-year-old is getting some relief thanks to Life 4 You Foundation.
Gogo Mabie Ndwengula lives in a worn-out makeshift shack with broken windows and a leaking roof. Her five grandchildren and 53-year-old son, Vusi, live with her.
The shack is infested with rodents, and Ndwengula’s body is full of scars from being bitten. Her health is also deteriorating.
In 2006, Ndwengula’s ramshackle two-room house was demolished to make way for an RDP house. Her valuables were put together at the back of her shack, where they still remain, and are getting damaged on a daily basis.
Her young grandchildren find it hard to study in a house that has no proper electricity, shelter or sanitation.
Ndwengula’s four daughters died years ago.
With only her monthly pensioner grant to sustain them, Ndwengula tried to put food on the table by collecting bottles for recycling. However, her deteriorating health put an end to that.
Ndwengula said: “I’ve been relying on handouts from members of the community and sometimes we do sleep on empty stomachs. I was hoping that the government could build an RDP house for my family, but since 2006 I’ve been waiting in the dark.”
Ndwengula told The Tembisan that what hurts her the most is seeing her furniture scattered around the yard, getting rained on and destroyed every day.
“Life is difficult, and to watch my grandchildren suffering like this with no proper shelter breaks my heart.
“When it rains I think it is too much, and I just cry, remembering that if my daughters were still alive, the situation would not be so hard as it is,” added Ndwengula.
But her prayers for food for her family were answered on April 26, when Life 4 You Foundation came to her rescue and promised to provide monthly groceries, including basic food items.
On the very same day, Life 4 You Foundation donated 12.5kg maize meal, 10kg rice, 2L fish oil, 1L concentrated juice, a box of soup, a box of soya mince, 500g salt, 2kg sugar, 1kg Iwisa porridge, 1kg flour, 12 beef cubes, vinegar and teabags.
Simon Molekwa, the project manager at Life 4 You Foundation, also promised to help build a proper house for Ndwengula before the end of June.
Molekwa said: “As usual at Life 4 You we visit places and do proper assessments to check if the families are really the deserving beneficiaries. During our visit to Ndwengula’s place we were overwhelmed with grief to see an elderly woman living in such inhumane circumstances.
“We need community intervention, local business people or any good Samaritan to donate any building materials that will help build a shelter for this family that is most in need. Our team sprang into action by visiting the local councillor and we are still engaging.”
Molekwa said by helping Ndwengula, people will be restoring her dignity and that of her grandchildren.
Anyone who is interested in helping Gogo Mabie Ndwengula can contact Life 4 You Foundation’s office on 011 051 8302, chairperson Mpho Mofokeng on 079 596 9099 or founder Simon Molekwa on 079 169 3705.
