Shack-living Shaka’s Head gogo (70) gets new home
Vilakazi said she had stayed in her shack since before the township was built and when they were given RDP houses, the two-room house was only enough for her children and grandchildren.
A 70-year-old Shaka’s Head gogo, Dani Vilakazi, was overwhelmed with joy as she finally got a new house after staying in an unstable shack for years.
Vilakazi said she had stayed in her shack since before the township was built and when they were given RDP houses, the two-room house was only enough for her children and grandchildren.
“I had no choice but to stay in this shack of mine and at that time it was still strong, until a few years back, a tree fell onto the house. I had to move to the other room with my great-grandchildren. While we were sleeping one night the roof collapsed. Fortunately, no one was hurt. We fixed it and since then I have been living in fear that the house will collapse on me and the children.”
Her new house comes courtesy of the Sakhisizwe organisation and Co-Church near Sibaya Casino.
Vilakazi thanked Shaka’s Head resident Busisiwe Makhathini of Sakhisizwe and pastor, Bevan Russell, for helping her.
“I do not know how I was going to get a new house if it was not for this child, Busi. She came here and looked at my house and said she will see what she can do. God bless all those who were involved. I now have a safe place to sleep and I know that when my days come to an end, my family will have a house.”
The family of more than 17 people depend on her old age pension and her daughter who works at a restaurant in Ballito.
Makhathini said gogo’s situation broke her heart and felt that she had to do something and the ladies from her organisation said they would join in.
“I am really happy that we finally came to gogo’s rescue and thank you to all those who supported the project and we hope to help more people in our township,” said Makhathini.
Russell said he saw Makhathini’s video on Facebook asking for help.
“We saw an opportunity to help and we used some of the offerings we got from church members to build the house,” said Russell.
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