A house to call home

ALTHOUGH it took him a long time to complete the house he built for the Mathebula family in Nkomo village in Giyani, Pastor Erasmus Malungani from Don’t Blame God International Ministry’s hard work and dedication paid off when the completed house was handed over to Vusi (24) and Hedges (23) Mathebula on Saturday.

“It was not an easy task. There were some hiccups along the way as we worked on the project,” he said.

He said Vusi and Hedges had lost their parents in 2010 and they had been left destitute.

“I was building the house with my personal funds, but along the way I had to put the project on hold while I ran around looking for funds,” he explained.

While Malungani provided the building material, the labour force was provided by the department of correctional services in the form of parolees, who built the house as part of their rehabilitation programme.

Correctional services community corrections head, Fharisani Mulaudzi spoke at the handover and concurred with Malungani’s statement that times were tough.

“I remember when the project had stopped, Pastor Malungani even travelled to Mozambique to look for sponsors,” he said.

He urged other charity organisations that needed labourers to contact his department for help.

Munghana Lonene FM manager, James Shikwambana, appealed to residents to ensure that the house was not used for anything else other than what it was intended for. “In some areas where we donated houses you’d find beneficiaries renting it out for cash or using it for prostitution and this discourages donors from helping disadvantaged people,” he said.

The radio station was instrumental in identifying the Mathebulas needs.

Hosi Aaron Mahumani appealed for more sponsors to contribute to the family.