Lena Maasdorp, 89, said she had “suffered long enough” as she received the keys to her new house.
|||Cape Town - Lena Maasdorp, 89, said she had “suffered long enough” as she received the keys to her new house from Human Settlements Minister Bonginkosi Madikizela on Friday.
Maasdorp, left homeless in a devastating fire that razed 1 360 shacks in Kayamandi’s Zone O in March, was among nine disabled people who received fully furnished homes. A further 90 two-bedroom homes will be handed to other Zone O residents on Monday.
Wheelchair-bound Maasdorp said it was fantastic to have her own house, “with running water”, after so many years.
Sharon van der Horst, Maasdorp’s granddaughter, also lost her shack in the blaze, and moved in with her grandmother yesterday.
“It’s been a tough road. We’re so happy, you have no idea. We have never had proper shelter, and this is amazing.”
But the handover wasn’t all smooth sailing, as a group of disgruntled Zone O residents drowned out local ward councillor Nokuthula Gugushe as she took to the dais to hand over the houses.
The residents, mostly fire victims, threatened to force their way inside, but the police were called to restore order.
Madikizela told the protesters that they may have valid points, but that the forum was inappropriate.
“They must write the issues down and send them to me. All those that I have the power to deal with, I will solve.”
Handing over the nine houses, Madikizela told the audience: “We’ll continue to try to accelerate the processes of housing people, and we’ll continue paying attention to those affected by the fire.
“We’re here to celebrate with the beneficiaries. But we can’t sideline those who have aired their grievances, and we’ll be attending to them.”
Meanwhile Kayamandi SA National Civic Organisation organiser Libile Mbasana claimed that although
Nedbank donated R50 000 to those affected by the fire in March, the money never reached the people.
Only one of three Food Bank trucks of donated food had arrived.
soyiso.maliti@inl.co.za
Weekend Argus