By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
Two families from Mokgareng and Ditshilong villages in Taung breathe a “sigh of relief” after the Greater Taung Local Municipality in partnership with Standard Bank promised to build them houses respectively.
Motsamai Tsolo (73) from Mokgareng village was staying alone in a dilapidating mud house and relied heavily on his pension grant for survival. He said it was difficult to live in dire condition and applauded the municipality and the bank for assistance.
“I am so grateful after I was identified as one of the beneficiaries of this project. I experienced challenges during rainy and windy seasons. However, my life will change for the better. Shelter gives people a feeling of well-being and boosts their will to live.
“Having a shelter is also a basic human necessity, in addition to food and water. The shelter also provides privacy and encourages independence from the community. I can now have a decent house and I am so grateful,” said Tsolo.
Another beneficiary, Martha Mooka (69) said: “Ten of us stayed in a two-roomed mud house and it was horrendous. However, I am happy to see the GTLM along with Standard Bank doing a sod-turning in my yard. No one is working here and we all rely on my pension grant for survival.
“We urge our government to ensure that underprivileged people receive basic needs. We would also like to send our attributes to Eddie Mogorwe who fought tooth and nail for us to get a house.”
Mogorwe said he known the family after he ran to the house seeking shelter, while it was raining. He said he was hurt by the unpleasant conditions the family was subjected to at that time.
“I am so grateful to see that the family will receive a decent house after a long time. I ran to the house seeking shelter because it was raining at that time. However, I found disaster as the water was flowing freely inside the house and the family had nowhere to go.
“So, I took it upon myself to ensure that I inform the municipality about the Mooka family’s living conditions. I disseminated the information to the municipal mayor, Kgosi Charles Motlhabane during the municipality’s imbizo. I want to applaud the municipality for their swift response,” he said.
Motlhabane said: “Even though GTLM is a rural municipality, it strives to change the lives of its people. Most of our population is marred with unemployment, inequality, and poverty, but we engaged with Standard Bank to address this matter. We do not have enough budgets, but we will ensure that our people receive dignified houses.”
Standard Bank Public Sector Banking Head in North West, Walter Mogotsi shared the same sentiments. Mogotsi said it is his responsibility to build a strategic relationship, especially where his deliverables in the provincial government and local municipalities are key.
“The importance of us building houses for the needy came upon when I received these projects, so I realised that there were some areas that we never touched on especially in the most rural areas where there is a need.
“So, I took it upon myself to look around those municipalities and we approached them. Each beneficiary will receive a decent house worth R350 000. Standard Bank has constructed other ten houses across the province for the needy,” he said.
The Guardian 