MEC TO THE RESCUE
Letsatsi-Duba touched by Sowetan article and feeds impoverished family
LIMPOPO MEC for health and social development Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba has saved the day for the family of Elizabeth Mothiba, of Segoreng section at Mentz village near Boyne.
Letsatsi-Duba donated food parcels – as a form of a temporary relief – to the impoverished Mothiba family and to three other families, who were also struggling, in their neighbourhood.
She also promised to give provisions to the families monthly for the next three months, after which, she said, processes of registrations with social development would have been completed to ensure they received government grants.
The MEC’s reaction follows a story in Sowetan highlighting the plight of the Mothiba family. The family lives in a dilapidated one-room house with huge cracks.
All eight family members are crammed in the room with only two worn-out beds and a few blankets.
No one is working except Mothiba’s eldest son, Danny, who does temporary jobs.
The family said it had “on several occasions” applied for an RDP house, but were told to wait.
Letsatsi-Duba said she felt touched as soon as she read the story in the paper and decided to “do something”.
The SA Social Security Agency ’ s spokesman for Limpopo, Zwannda Kutama, said social workers had been sent to assist the family to get birth certificates in order for the members to qualify for social grants.
“This assistance will forever be in my mind as it comes at a time when we did not have anything to eat,” Maria, Elizabeth ’ s daughter, said.
The family also thanked Sowetan.
The Polokwane municipality said it was still engaging the business community with a view to build a house for the poor family.