GOGO Alvina Silangwe had to live in a shack for almost two years after eThekwini Municipality destroyed her five-roomed house in 2014.
Although the municipality had promised to build a four-roomed RDP house to replace it, she was left with only a concrete slab.
Finally, the desperate gogo asked Daily Sun to intervene. And now she is the proud owner of a brand new RDP!
Daily Sun first published the story about gogo’s situation in September last year.
At the time, the municipality promised to build her a house in two months.
After her house was demolished, Alvina was forced to build three shacks to house herself and seven family members.
She had to move her personal belongings to a municipal toilet near her home.
The 73-year-old thanked the People’s Paper for making sure the municipality kept its promise. “I had lost hope that the municipality would ever come back and build the house, but now I’m smiling. I don’t have to keep my belongings in the toilet anymore and no longer have to live in a shack.”
When the SunTeam visited her yesterday, gogo couldn’t hold back her joy. “This paper is miraculous because all my attempts to get help failed.
“I even contacted Councillor Amon Dladla, who couldn’t help me. But this paper brought a smile back to my face.”
Although the house had not yet been painted, Alvina said she was happy.
“All I wanted was a decent house.”
Dladla said he was glad to see the gogo happy and promised the painting would be done soon.