Visually Impaired man receives hew home from DPM
By Thokozani Mazibuko
What began as a life marked by hardship, makeshift shelter and constant uncertainty has transformed into a story of dignity and renewed hope for Wandile Gumbi of Vusweni.
The visually impaired resident has endured years of instability, including nights spent inside water pipes after being chased away from home, followed by a long period of renting structures that were barely habitable. His journey took an uplifting turn this week when he received the keys to a brand new house built especially for him.
The handover ceremony took place on Thursday at Vusweni under Maseyini Inkhundla and was led by the Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla.
The event drew community leaders, neighbours, social workers and representatives from government departments who had been part of assessing Gumbi’s situation and coordinating the intervention.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Deputy Prime Minister said the new home symbolised government’s ongoing commitment to protecting the dignity of people living with disabilities and those living in vulnerable conditions.
She emphasised that no person should be left to survive in unsafe spaces or structures that put their health and wellbeing at risk. Dladla further noted that providing appropriate and stable shelter was a fundamental step toward empowerment and inclusion.
Gumbi’s story was first brought to the attention of social workers through the community leadership, who expressed concern about his living conditions.
Due to family complications, he had been forced to leave home and spent several nights sleeping inside large pipes in his area to shield himself from the cold and rain.
Later, he managed to rent a small dwelling, but the structure was so dilapidated that it offered little protection and posed serious safety hazards.
As a visually impaired individual, these circumstances made daily life even more challenging. Community leaders explained that they worried constantly about his security and were grateful when the matter was escalated to the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office for intervention.
Community members who attended the ceremony described the day as emotional and inspiring. Many reflected on how Gumbi’s resilience had touched them over the years and how his perseverance despite hardship had encouraged unity within the community.
Several neighbours said they believed the new home would allow Gumbi to focus on rebuilding his life without fear of where he would sleep or how he would stay safe.
In her closing remarks, the Deputy Prime Minister urged community members to continue looking out for the vulnerable and reporting cases where individuals may be suffering in silence.
She noted that meaningful development is achieved when communities and government work hand in hand to protect those at risk.