Cape Town – Margaret Adonis was overcome with joy shortly after International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Nomaindiya Mfeketo handed over a new house to the Rondevlei resident.
“I can now sleep in peace,” she said.
The Deputy Minister was in the area on Thursday to host an imbizo to outline South Africa’s foreign policy priorities. Her visit was also part of this year’s Heritage Month events.
Adonis, who is 73-years-old, said she was happy that she and her grandchildren can finally have a decent roof over their heads. “I feel happy. To move from a bungalow to a house like this is a huge difference,” she said.
The house comes with a kitchen, lounge, bathroom and two bedrooms.
Five houses were handed over on the day. Earlier on, the Deputy Minister handed a house to another resident, Ouma Sara Saas, on her 92nd birthday.
The Deputy Minister helped the elderly resident cut her birthday cake before telling Ouma Saas and members of the community that the handing over of the houses was significant, as it showed that a determination to overcome struggles has good rewards.
She said after years of waiting, the community was eventually allocated a piece of land where their houses would be built.
“If you remember way back, I think it was about 15 years ago when I was still the Mayor of this city, this is the community that was struggling and wanting houses and the officials were taking them from pillar to post but the residents were prepared to come forward and say we don’t only want houses, we want houses that we will manage ourselves.
“It took long but today we are celebrating. They have done it the way they want to do it themselves instead of allowing other people to do it. This community is an example to many communities that if you open the door, the doors might not be locked and you can be able to get in,” she said.
Asked how she felt after being given a new home, Ouma Saas could only say she was “very happy”.
The Deputy Minister said she was humbled by the role the community played by being part of the construction of the houses under the banner of the Rondevlei Housing Project.
“The community was very strong in saying we want houses that we will dictate ourselves. We want houses that we must tell those that are building that we want to be part of the building.
“It took long but today it is wonderful. The community is benefiting and their resilience can show. From a strong community like this, I am expecting more to come out of this community,” she said.
The Deputy Minister was also in the area to re-name a children’s park in honour of political activist Dora Tamara, who passed away in 1983 aged 82.
She said Tamara was honoured for committing her life to the upliftment of communities in the Western Cape, and that the re-naming of the park would be followed by the opening of a crèche that Tamara started in the 1950s.
Deputy Minister Mfeketo said Tamara defied apartheid laws and promoted cohesion between black and coloured communities before being forcibly relocated to the Gugulethu township. – SAnews.gov.za
