Disgruntled and frustrated are only few of the words to describe Charles Godden of Merlewood.

During his 2019 election campaign, President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Charles’ mother, Joanna Godden who was 103-years-old at the time. According to Charles, the president made various promises to his mother which have been unfulfilled.

“She died last month at the age of 104 and he (Cyril) came to the house when my mother was 103 with the South Coast Herald, the mayor and other councillors from the ANC. He came and he made a promise to my mother in the house,” he said.

“The army pension for my father, Tommy was never paid out. He promised and said we shouldn’t have to pay for water and lights, but he never signed any papers when he said that,” added Charles.

Tommy enlisted in the army in February 1941 and served until August 1944. He joined as a private at Beaconsfield and died in 1999 at the age of 82.

Up until the death of his mother and until now, according to Charles, there has been no response from the president and his office in fulfilling the promises made to his family.

“Last time when he came to Gamalakhe, we made contact with him but there was no response. My mother even asked if these people wanted her dead first, or if they stole the money. She was one year older than the ANC, and that is something the president pointed out.”

Attempts by the Herald to contact the president’s office for comment have been unsuccessful.

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