Human Settlements built a house for victims of domestic abuse
10 December 2012
A 23-year old lady from Verena at the Thembisile Hani Local Municipality in Mpumalanga will for the first time have a safe shelter to call home. The Department of Human Settlements joined hands with the Department of Social Department and the local municipality to symbolically build a house for the lady (Name withheld) as part of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign. The victim, who has two children, has suffered a gender-based abuse allegedly from her stepfather for years.
As part of 16 Days of activism of no Violence Against Women and Children, the Department of Human Settlements is commemorated the campaign by building a house for her and the children. Her case was discovered by the Department of Social Development which then engaged Human Settlements and the municipality for the building of a structure. Stakeholders led by the Acting Head of Department, Mr Sarel Mtsweni and Executive Mayor, Cllr Ndaweni Mahlangu symbolically built the house on Sunday (09/12/12) so as to restore dignity and show government’s commitment in service delivery and the improvement of people’s lives.
The contractor who was also at the construction site led the construction proceedings as all stakeholders symbolically built the house.
“There’s a lot of satisfaction in being part of the team who does a hard job in the community. Volunteering to change the standard of living in one community member is a life changing experience, let us keep up the good work we have done for this beneficiary” said Acting Head of Department, Mr Sarel Mtsweni.
The house will be completed within two weeks and it will be early Christmas for the beneficiary. Officials from the department will monitor the construction and ensure delivery.
Upon completion, the household will receive furniture donations and food parcels from all the stakeholders. Executive Mayor, Cllr Ndaweni Mahlangu concurred with the Mr Mtsweni on the spirit of voluntarism and commitment in trying to help the needy.
“If we remain united as community, we are in the best position to accomplish our needs. Let us not wait for the government to do things for us because little things happen when we wait but when we wake up and do them we achieve a lot”.
The Department will this Thursday symbolically build another house at Metsi Village, Bushbuckridge Local Municipality for orphaned children.
The campaign aims to restore women’s dignity within the context of safer, secure families and increase level of awareness on incidents of NO violence against women and children.
Contact Person:
Freddy Ngobe
Cell: 082 859 4630
Tel: 013 766 6014
ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORATE MPUMALANGA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS
