By Delisa Thwala
The Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thulisile Dladla continues being Mother Santa to the underprivileged elderly in the country.
Dladla handed over five houses to vulnerable families at Mtfongwaneni Inkhundla.
All these families were living in unbearable structures, which have worn out over the years and started falling apart.
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All five families were made proud owners of two-roomed houses, well-ventilated pit latrine toilets, and water tanks.
They also received two sponges, rice, beans, and vegetable oil from the DPM. The construction started in January and all five houses have been completed.
Worth mentioning is that, the DPM personally donated curtains for all the houses. She was accompanied by Member of Parliament Nathi Mdockies Hlophe and the constituency council.
The first household at Ndlandlameni was a Shongwe family.
Lucy aged 64 lived with her two children and three grandchildren, whose parents passed on due to COVID-19.
Mbabane Highlanders Football Club and Bible Society of Eswatini came on board to fund the project assisted by the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA).
Some of the households were also fenced by NDMA. They will also receive two goats from the DPM’s office as well.
In the second household, two Nkambule sisters, Lucy aged 79 and Gladys aged 83 were in tears when the DPM handed over a two-room house to them.
They have been sleeping in old sticks and mud houses for the longest time. They sang and danced to show their appreciation to the caring DPM, who was laughing throughout the visit.
Bheki Msibi (56) was the third household, he is disabled and lives with his wife Thembisile Fakudze (45), and two children. Their house was destroyed and NDMA gave them a tent to live in while constructing the house.
With the fourth household belonging to Mthethi, Sihlongonyane’s house was destroyed and he has been sleeping in a tent from NDMA.
When receiving the house, he told the DPM that since moving into his new house he now enjoys rain.
“Previously I was sad when it was raining because I would be wet inside the house but today when it rains I enjoy knowing that I am safe,” he said.
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The last house belonged to Ncamsile Malambe, who was orphaned while still young and she was raised by strangers over the years.
The local umphakatsi allocated her land, where her two-roomed house was constructed.
The youth in the community took part in the construction of the house and when addressing the DPM, they requested fencing for their farming business.
The DPM promised them a fence and a few goats to kick-start their goats’ business.
Meanwhile the DPM said she was grateful and pleased to have been able to offer such help to the elderly.
