The North West Premier, Prof Tebogo Job Mokgoro handed over a newly built house to the family of Matlhomola Jonas Moshoeu on Human Rights Day.
Matlhomola was a 16-year-old boy who died in April 2017 after being assaulted by two local farmers accusing him of stealing sunflower from a local farm.
Built as a donation by Gift of the Givers Foundation, a fully furnished two bedroomed house with an open plan kitchen and lounge, is located just outside the Scotland informal settlement in Coligny, where the family has been staying in a shack.
Addressing scores of local residents who attended the handover event, Premier Mokgoro said government has an inherent responsibility to provide adequate and proper housing to the most needy, and that the humanitarian act by Gift of the Givers Foundation will go a long way in assisting the government to fulfil its mandate to provide habitable human settlements to the poorest of the poor.
“This is a partnership that is exemplary of what can happen if the government and its social partners work together towards a common cause; Matlhomola’s life will never be replaced but this house will stand as a memory to try and heal our brutal and divided past as a people – co-existing on both sides of the divide as a black and white communities,” emphasised Premier Mokgoro.
Mokgoro said the provincial government and its partners saw it befitting to hand over this house on Human Rights Day, saying that Matlhomola’s death reminds many people of the 1960 Sharpeville massacre and that his death is viewed as a continuous battle for freedom and human rights.
Ms Emily Thomas, the Project Coordinator of Gift of the Givers Foundation said they were hopeful that this house will be turned into a home.
“With this house, we want to say to the Moshoeu family that as a country, we were crying with them at the time of their son’s death and that we hope that house will bring them joy and special memories,” said Ms Thomas.
Ms Agnes Moshoeu, the late Matlhomola’s mother, thanked Gift of the Givers and the provincial government for remaining steadfast in their commitment to assist them, saying this house will always be a reminder of how the Coligny residents, the provincial government leadership and the broader society stood by the family’s side during that tragic episode.
Premier Mokgoro was joined by MEC for Local Government and Human Settlements, Motlalepula Rosho, Mayor of Ditsobotla Local Municipality Daniel Buthelezi and local councillors.
Moshoeu who was a Grade 6 learner at Hakbokslaagte Primary School in Coligny, died on 20 April 2017 and the two farmers accused of brutally assaulting him, Phillip Schutte and Pieter Doorewaard, were eventually found guilty and were early this month sentenced to 18 and 25 years in prison, respectively.
Moshoeu’s death sparked violent protests by Coligny residents in 2017, which resulted in the destruction of properties and looting of local shops.
