Media Room

15 May 2017 - Pensioner delighted to move from a shack in Tshepiso to a new house in Savanna City

After years living in a shack, Selinah Mahlasela finally sleeps in the comfort of her own home. During a rainy Saturday morning, the 100-year old Gogo from Tshepiso near Sharpeville became the recipient of a brand new house in Savanna City in the Midvaal Local Municipality.

When her plight was published in the Citizen newspaper and broadcast on Lekoa FM two months ago, her fortunes changed. It was through this encounter that Government only learnt that Gogo Mahlasela never came forward to register on the housing database. The National and Provincial Departments of Human Settlements, together with their counterparts at the Sedibeng District and Emfuleni Local Municipalities intervened to restore dignity of the senior citizen.

The Emfuleni Local Municipality Executive Mayor, Councillor Mahole Simon Mofokeng was accompanied by Members of the Mayoral Committee for Human Settlements from Emfuleni and Sedibeng, Councillors Jan Moshoaluba and Madisebo Khomoeasera respectively, to officially hand-over the fully-furnished house to the excited Gogo and her family members.

Gogo Selinah’s granddaughter and the registered beneficiary for the house, Disebo Motsepe (30) said her grandmother’s life has changed for the better.
“For many years she lived in shacks in different areas where she lived without electricity and was forced to use pit toilets. I am happy that she finally has a house to call a home, a house that is fully furnished,” she said.

MMC Khomoeasera said she first learned of Gogo Selinah’s plight when she met her at Lekoa FM and she immediately took up her urgent case for her house.

At first, government had identified a piece of land where houses were to be built but later we decided to accelerate the process by allocating her a house in Savanna so that her dignity would be restored as soon as possible.

A visibly happy and excited Gogo Selinah said she had lost all hope of ever living in her own house.
“I am very happy and thankful to all those who helped to make sure that I have a roof over my head.
Now, even in my death, my family will have a house to call their own,” she said.

Emfuleni Local Municipality Executive Mayor Councillor Mahole Simon Mofokeng congratulated Gogo Selinah on her new house.
“I appreciate the efforts of our Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance, Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements, the Honorable Paul Mashatile for his intervention.

This is after he gave me a call on the morning of the day that the Citizen newspaper published Gogo Selinah’s saddening story and we immediately started processes to help her.

Three months later, she has a house and we would to congratulate her and the entire family,” he said

ISSUED BY: Lebo Mofokeng 
Mayoral Spokesperson 
079 510 7324 / 016 950 5488
lebo@emfuleni.gov.za