CELEBRITIES got their hands dirty recently and joined the Department of Human Settlements to paint houses at the Savanna City development in
Joburg.
The event, labelled Celebrity Build, saw celebs like Amanda DuPont – who plays Lelo Mthiyane in Skeem Saam – Sophie Ndaba, models Lerato Moloi and Tsholofelo Malema, and Nkosi Cengani who plays Emmanuel in Rhythm City rolling up their sleeves for a good cause.
Residents of Emfuleni and Midvaal were excited to see their favourite TV personalities taking up paint brushes and giving the walls of the newly-developed housing development its first lick of paint.
The celebrities also helped to plant grass at the homes of 103-year-old gogo Selina van Rooi and Elda Mazongolo, who were named as beneficiaries of new houses that were also donated. Each received a four-roomed RDP.
Before the celebs started painting and planting, Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements, Jacob Mamabolo, addressed the residents of Midvaal section.
“As government we have a responsibility to provide decent shelter for all deserving individuals. We have seen a disturbing trend where people sell houses, and this must come to an end,” he said.
The celebs, followed by fans in their numbers, grabbed paint brushes, each painting a small section of the houses.
Model Tsholofelo said that giving back to the community does not cost a thing.
“I do a lot of community charity work, and when I heard about this project I decided to jump in. There’s nothing more fulfilling than helping,” Tsholofelo said.
Gogo Elda said that she was very relieved to be getting a home.
“I feel like a human being. I’m tired of living in a shack and watching people get houses before me.”
Selina added: “God has helped me get a house that I will live in until I die.”