by Ncaba Ntshakala
The Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thulisile Dladla has recently handed over four newly built houses and a fully operational neighbourhood care point (NCP) in the Hhohho region, which was hailed as it will change the lives of several disadvantaged citizens and children in the process.
The handovers spanned four constituencies and involved stories of resilience, loss, and renewed hope.
At Siphocosini Inkhundla, the DPM opened a modest but dignified two-room house for Tengetile Shabangu, a 36-year-old mother of three whose life was upended in 2021 when her husband, a police officer, was tragically killed.
“After my husband died, his family evicted me and my children from our home in Ekufikeni. I had no choice but to move in with my sister,” Shabangu shared emotionally.
“We have suffered for so long. But now, thanks to the government, we have our own space and a foundation for healing.”
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The land for the house was allocated to her earlier this year, and while the house is yet to be fully modified, it now offers safety and stability that was once a distant dream for the young widow and her children.
From Siphocosini, the DPM travelled to Ntfonjeni Inkhundla, Hhelehhele area, where she handed over another house to Siphiwe Madlopha, aged 46.
Madlopha’s house had been destroyed in a violent storm over a year ago, leaving her with no other option but to seek shelter in a tent.
“I’ve endured over a year of sleeping on the ground in the cold and rain. I didn’t think I would survive it,” Madlopha recounted.
The local community, recognising her plight, allocated her land, upon which her new house was constructed. The relief on her face as she received the keys was testament to the importance of targeted government intervention for disaster-affected households.
72 year old receives new house after previous one collapsed
In Timphisini Inkhundla, the story of Gogo Tentile Mamba La Motsa, aged 72, was equally heartrending.
After the collapse of her original house, she had been living in an aging stick and mud structure that was visibly on the brink of crumbling.
Today, Gogo Mamba received a new home funded by the Philip Morris Foundation through the DPM’s Office. “I’ve lived my old age in fear, every night wondering if the house would fall in while I sleep.
Today, I will rest without fear,” said Gogo Mamba, her frail voice filled with relief and gratitude.
The involvement of private donors like Philip Morris highlights how collaborative efforts can transform lives at the grassroots level
Mayiwane Inkhundla receives house, new Neighbourhood Care Point
At Mayiwane Inkhundla, DPM Dladla officially opened both a house for the late Correctional Officer Mthayi Dlamini at Herefords and the newly constructed Sinqobile Neighbourhood Care Point, which now serves 76 children of varying ages.
Previously, the children had no structure and would gather under a tree for informal lessons and shared meals.
The Deputy Prime Minister, upon witnessing this firsthand during an unplanned visit, was moved by what she saw. “I was driving past and saw a group of children sitting under the tree.
I stopped and asked what was happening. What I saw touched me deeply,” she recalled. “These children deserved better, and I knew something had to be done immediately.”
The NCP now provides these children with informal education and at least one meal per day. It has received significant support in the form of food aid from World Vision Eswatini and ADRA.
Dladla further announced that plans are underway to fence the entire NCP area to ensure the children’s safety, as it is located close to a busy road.
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“We will make sure these children are protected from the dangers of traffic. No child should risk their life just to learn or eat,” she affirmed.
Accompanying the DPM throughout the visit were several national leaders and representatives including Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee Gcina Magagula, Ntfonjeni MP Raymond Dlamini, Timphisini MP Thulani Nsingwane, and Mayiwane MP Sicelo Dlamini. Staff from the DPM’s office and the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) also participated in the tour, demonstrating inter-institutional collaboration.
Beyond the handover of physical structures, the visiting delegation distributed food parcels to the families from the DPM’s Office and the Royal Eswatini Police Service.
Corporate social responsibility was also visible as Montigny Company donated essential household items including beds, clothes cabinets, and sponges.
“What we are doing here is not charity—it is justice,” the DPM said. “These families have suffered, and as government, we have a duty to respond meaningfully.”
Each visit was punctuated by emotional reactions from the beneficiaries and the surrounding community, who expressed deep appreciation for the DPM’s compassion and active presence in rural areas.
The day-long visit left no doubt that government’s social safety net, though often stretched, is still capable of transforming lives when aligned with community input and strategic partnerships.
