The Nceduluntu Support Group NPO joined hands with residents on Thursday to welcome Thembinkosi Ngwenya to his new RDP home in Ndevana, Qonce.
It was in 2021 when they noticed Ngwenya’s appalling living conditions in his flat.
The 62-year-old lives alone, depends on a pension grant and collects cans to make extra cash.
Troubled by his living conditions, they arranged for him to get an RDP house from the department of human settlements.
To make his house a home, residents and leaders attended the handover and came bearing gifts from groceries, home essentials and other necessities.
“I am so happy and grateful to those who were able to make this reality for me,” Ngwenya said.
He said he was happy to see residents supporting him and for making time to be part of a small ceremony.
“His neighbour recommended Ngwenya and that was when we decided to visit him in 2021,” Nceduluntu’s manager, Vumile Mntwapi, said.
“We were shocked to find him living in a house that had no windows, the living conditions were really bad and he had no furniture apart from a bed.”
He said they had taken on the initiative to assist him through the help of community leaders.
“When it rained half of his home would be wet. We knocked on doors and were fortunate that human settlements responded to our call,” he said.
In the same year they were able to help Ngwenya put through his application.
“It was in August 2022 when the construction of the house began,” he said.
“We are happy. It is an achievement not only for him but for us as well.
Seeing him moved from a house that was a safety concern to an RDP home is a great feeling
“Seeing him moved from a house that was a safety concern to an RDP home is a great feeling,” he said.
Mntwapi said it was evident that the work they did was bearing results.
“We have assisted many people in the community and we have various programmes that we run.
“Our objective is to take care of the vulnerable.”
He said they were continuing to make regular visits and would make sure he settled swiftly into his new home.
“We have sponsors that assist us and when we receive vouchers from supermarkets he is one of our beneficiaries and we have been doing that for him,”
He said they worked closely with the social development department and looked after vulnerable residents.
“We go as far as fetching medicine for those who are bedridden and taking care of them.”
Mntwapi said they also engaged in community projects, such as a social behaviour change programme for different age groups in the community.
DispatchLIVE
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