By Delisa Thwala
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thulisile Dladla has become a knight in shining armour for two elderly sisters living in a less desirable environment.
Over the weekend, Dladla visited two sisters Fikile Simangele Motsa (73) and Zodwa Margaret Motsa (72), both living in old, dilapidated houses at Phondo Inkhundla, Lushikishini area.
Fikile’s house is made out of wood and old clothes. The house has been collapsing to such an extent that she is forced to kneel when going in and out.
When inside the house, she cannot stand up but kneels.
According to reports Fikile has been living in this condition for years after her house collapsed during a heavy storm.
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Her concern is that since she is old her knees are painful sometimes and have difficulty when she must go in and out.
“My house collapsed, and we built this one as a makeshift hoping that someday I will have money and build myself a house.
That day never came, and I have been living here for years. I would be very grateful to own a decent house,” she said.
In addition, her sister Zodwa who also lives in an old one room old stick and mud house, which is also a kitchen. She cooks and sleeps in the same room.
Meanwhile Member of Parliament (MP) Mduduzi Dube together with the constituency team identified this family and notified the DPM.
Upon her arrival, the DPM was shocked to see Fikile’s house and she could not get inside due to the kneeling before entering.
Through private sponsors and NDMA, the DPM promised Fikile and Zodwa a house each and a toilet. They will also receive a water tank.
The DPM further provided food parcels for the two old sisters consisting of rice, beans and vegetable oil.
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“We have been commissioned by Ingwenyama YeMaswati to work with constituencies in developing communities. It is disheartening to see how some old people are living under.
My office is all out to try and improve the lives of the vulnerable elderly people in the country,” she said.
She further thanked the community for taking care of the elderly as well as the Inkhundla and Umphakatsi.
Meanwhile, Fikile will move in a tent provided by the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) during the construction of her house for her safety.
