Company set to rebuild family’s home for free
Single mother and grandmother Sisiwe Poni, 66, of Tarkastad, whose family’s home was destroyed by severe storms earlier this year, is expected to move into her rebuilt house by Women’s Day next month, thanks to construction company CB Services.
The company has offered to rebuild her home for free. Mandela Month brought much-needed relief for the family of 10 when on Mandela Day this week, officials from the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality visited the family to introduce the contractor.
The family is currently living in a nearby house provided by a community member.
Construction manager Cobus Bodenstein, of CB Services, said the company continued with its philanthropic work of building houses free of charge for destitute families.
He said CB Services had learnt of the family’s dire living conditions after a request was made by the department of human settlements for the company to offer assistance.
“We were at her house and we saw what had happened and how the house was built,” Bodenstein said.
“We had a discussion with her and decided we would opt to build her a new, 40m² house on the new norms and standards.”
EMLM mayor Thembeka Bunu and portfolio head for human settlement Ongama Adonis led a team that visited the construction site to demolish the dilapidated structure.
Bunu commended the regional department of human settlements for approaching the contractor and working tirelessly to ensure the family were helped.
“We are delighted at the tenacious work of serving the people,” she said.
The construction cost is estimated at about R180,000. The municipality pleaded with community members to provide any form of assistance if the contractor should be in need.
Groceries were also delivered to the family by department of human settlement employees.
Many other Mandela Day activities were conducted in various areas by the municipality, including the clearing of illegal dumping sites and handing over of clothes and school uniforms to children.