Almost penniless, but never forsaken
We sympathise and say 'shame', but we could never really understand the struggles of a destitute family.
Nothing is harder to comprehend than the feeling of having no place to call your own.
We sympathise and say ‘shame’, but we could never really understand the struggles of a destitute family.
The National Department of Human Settlements and the National Home Builders Registration Council joined forces with Newcastle Municipality to put a roof over the heads of the Kubheka family of six on November 28 at Dicks Halt, Ward 6.
The family’s home was built as part of the Media Build campaign, whereby government, in partnership with the private sector and more specifically, the media, contribute resources to build homes for impoverished families across the country.
Unemployed widow, Ntombifuthi Kubheka takes care of five children in a makeshift structure they call ‘home’. Mfanafuthi, Vusi, Bongumusa, Philisiwe and disabled Kwanele have never known the stability that comes with having a place that is theirs and theirs alone.
During the handover, Councillor Mandla Zikhali extended council’s gratitude to all the stakeholders who made the campaign possible. He further commended local businesses for heeding the call of the community, coming to the family’s aid in every way possible.
He emphasised that the municipality did not build the house and that it is not a sample of prospective Rural Development Project houses to be built in the area.
This is one of the newer, more sophisticated houses and is deemed to be the first of this kind. The house is 65 square metres, surpassing the 40 square metre houses usually built by Media Build.
The community is grateful for campaigns like this that often restore faith in the ‘system’.
We hope the Kubheka family lives a long, healthy and prosperous life in their new home!
