ICYMI: New home for Ivory Park woman at long last
IVORY PARK – As a special gesture on Mandela Day, the Johannesburg Housing Department gifted a house to a 74-year-old woman.
This year’s Mandela Day proved to be a very special occasion for Nofezile Maqokolo when she received a house from the City of Johannesburg.
Mandela Day is commemorated annually and people are encouraged to do 67 minutes of community service. The day is commemorated to celebrate the 67 years that Nelson Mandela spent fighting for social justice.
The City decided that this would be a fitting day to host the handover and on 18 July, Mayor of Johannesburg Geoff Makhubo, Housing MMC Mlungisi Mabaso and MMC for Health and Social Development Eunice Mgcina met with Maqokolo to hand over keys to her new home.
“What better day to chose than the birthday of our icon, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela to come and hand over the house… we want to make every day a Mandela Day, make every day [a day of] service to humanity because that is the best work of life,” Makhubo said.
Seventy-four-year-old Maqokolo had raised concerns about her informal housing during a public meeting in February. She and her family had been living together in a shack since 2001.
Maqokolo was elated with her new home, which came equipped with a stove, bed and other household items.
“I have been struggling for years and I thank the mayor for answering my request after we spoke during a mayoral Imbizo in February,” she said.
During the handover, Makhubo said that he has big plans for the community of Ivory Park. “We are going to have what we call priority developed areas where will develop streets, sewer development and water reticulation,” Makhubo explained.
“After our term of office we wish to see this area as a developed township and what we did for gogo [Maqokolo] is just proof of what we promised.”
Makhubo said that it is important for everyone to ask what they can do to help others. “Government alone cannot deliver services in all areas at all times. We need what we call an active and engaged citizen.”
Mabaso added that the two parties decided to work together for the benefit of the people. “The IFP and ANC decided to put their differences aside and work together to ensure that people of Gauteng receive service delivery, hence we agreed to form a government of local unity last year December.”
The mayor also marked Mandela Day in Selby in the Inner City, joined by the MMC for Environment Infrastructure Services, Mpho Moerane, to hand over Covid-19 personal protective equipment to waste pickers in the area.
