RDP house in eMbalenhle is falling apart after three years
According to Johannes Mapeshoane, the house in Ext 26, eMbalenhle, was built three years ago. They noticed cracks forming in the walls nine months after moving in.
The Mapeshoane family is living in fear of their RDP house, which is about to collapse because of cracks.
According to Johannes Mapeshoane, the house in Ext 26, eMbalenhle, was built three years ago. They noticed cracks forming in the walls nine months after moving in.
He said, recently, the door fell out.
“We are now afraid of what will happen if the house collapses. There are huge cracks in the structure,” he said.
Mapeshoane is especially afraid for his disabled son. Hlalefo (15) is wheelchair-bound after being electrocuted by a fallen electricity cable four years ago. He was playing in the street when the accident happened.
“We reported the house to the Govan Mbeki Municipality and the mayor, Nhlakanipho Zuma, when he came to visit Hlalefo last year.
“We told him we appreciated his gifts to us and the boy, but we were not happy with our RDP house.
“The mayor was unaware of what had happened to Hlalefo and told us when he heard about Hlalefo’s plight, he visited us in his private capacity.
“He then gave Hlalefo a laptop and money to buy a cellphone and gave us food parcels. We appreciate what he has done, but we also need help with our RDP house,” said Mapeshoane.
He said his family cannot sleep at night, and he is always worried about his wife and children while he is at work.
According to him, members of a certain political party visited the family and promised to assist them with their child and their house on condition that he join the party.
Mapeshoane said he filled in the forms and received a membership card, but when he followed up on the promises made, they told him to visit the municipality.
Another political party then promised to take Hlalefa’s matter to court. However, when the father contacted this party’s leadership, he was told that ‘progress is being made’.
“We don’t even know which court is handling the matter,” said Mapeshoane.
He said they needed the municipality to fix their house before an accident happened.
The communication department of the municipality said they would respond once they obtained full information about the house that will be sent to their human settlement section to be investigated and to make recommendations.
ALSO READ: Man appears in Bethal Court for rape of his daughter
ALSO READ: Sister tells of the family’s search for murdered Leandra woman
