GAMAKOFANE – A 34-year-old blind man of Masetlaokeng sleeps in a house that leaks and is full of mud.
Mr David Motswiane wishes to have his own RDP house, like many locals. The closest he has got to living that dream is a cracked foundation built by the Greater Tubatse Municipality (GTM) a decade ago.
“I am suffering and living a difficult life, poor people do not ask to be in a position where they are – at the mercy of others,” he said.
He has braved the summer storms and rain in a dilapidated half-roof house. His only family is his sister Jane Motswiane who lives in Lydenburg, about 80 kilometres from Ga-Makofane.
According to concerned community members, Motswiane lives on on what his neighbours and well-wishers give him.
“He invites himself to every wedding and funeral in the area to receive a decent meal.”
Motswiane pleaded with the local municipality to build him an RDP house.
He told Steelburger/ Lydenburg News that he went to the municipality on several occasions enquiring about the house he had applied for a decade ago.
“I even went to an extent of protesting at their fancy buildings, but nobody cared. They threatened to call the police and told me my application has been blocked.”
Motswiane says the contractors had only built the foundation back in 2005 and promised to complete it, but to date nothing has happened.
The GTM’s spokesperson Mr Thabiso Mokoena said they will check on their database if Motswiane applied for a RDP house in 2005.
“If the foundation was built, we will enquire at the Limpopo Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) on why the house was not completed.” Mokoena said.
Despite attempts by Steelburger/Lydenburg News to get a comment from Mr Motupa Selomo, Coghsta spokesman, to explain his position on the matter. There was no response at the time of going to press.
“I pray for a Good Samaritan to help me and provide me with shelter. I hope my prayers will be answered,” said Motswiane.
