Rubble of dreams for Rachel
When Rachel Malatjie from Titibe at Ga-Dikgale applied for an RDP house in 2011, she dreamed of the day she would finally get the keys to her new home.
POLOKWANE – The 53-year-old mother of five lived in a shack with her children and she thought her dream was finally coming true when in February this year, building materials were delivered for the RDP house. Little did she know, however, she would still be stranded in August after her RDP house was demolished reportedly due to shoddy work done by the contractor.
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Nakedi Ramonetha, the Chairperson of Dikgale Development Community Forum and Chairperson of the Forum for Service Delivery Limpopo Provincial Convenor, became aware of the family’s plight when research was done in the area to find people who had been approved for RDP houses but had not received them.
“The family was living in a shack while they waited for their RDP home to be constructed. A small two-roomed house was built for the family as temporary shelter while they awaited their new house.
“We still do not have a house and we have been following up on the matter since 2013 with the municipality and the ward 33 councillor but without success,” Malatjie said. Work on the house was started four months after the material was delivered and Malatjie said she was happy the winds of change were finally blowing for her and her family. Unfortunately, she was sorely disappointed when the house was completed.
“It was not safe for people to live in. It was hazardous and definitely not up to standard as the windows and doors did not even fit into the frames. We had to write a letter to the municipal office in Solomondale to let them know about our grievances,” Malatjie added, saying only after numerous calls for action was the house finally demolished.
That was about three weeks ago but the family’s lives are still in a state of disarray as they have no answers on when they will get another RDP house.
Paena Galane, Spokesperson for Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA), said they will have to check the Housing Subsidy System (HSS) report which will explain the reasons behind the house being demolished. At this stage, however, Galane said it will be difficult to say why the house was demolished and to determine whether it was due to shoddy workmanship or if the problem lies with the land allocated. He assured the family the matter is being looked into.
