Disabled teen and two orphans from Mooiplaas to receive special new homes

East London - As part of the build up to the Mandela Day celebrations, collaborative efforts will see the living conditions of a disabled 17-year-old girl and two young orphans from Sithungo Village, Mooiplaas, improve for the better.

Eastern Cape MEC for Human Settlements, Ms Nonkqubela Pieters, will hand over two new homes.

"One is with special features to Siphelele Zenzile and a second one will be handed over two young orphans, Asiphe and Aphiwe Phenze on Thursday," explained Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements Spokesperson, Masizi Mazizi. 

"The inter-governmental approach has been advancing assistance to the beneficiaries. MMs Development, a Contractor and Mr Siviwe Chipa Mpengesi, Chairman of Chipa United have sponsored towards construction of the two houses respectively."

Mazizi added that the Departments of Health and Social Development, Great Kei Local Municipality, South African Police Services and SASSA have come to the assistance with other services of government in order to improve their  living condition.

"According to the United Nations, recent advancements of the rights of persons with disabilities in society and development are signified through the adoption, progression and promotion of the international norms and standards relating to disability," he described.

"Siphelele Zenzile, is a 17-year-old teen from Sithungo Village, living with disability, and the other two youth from Nyalarha, a nearby village to Sithungo had been living in appalling conditions and Siphelele in particular was in a condition that was not conducive to her situation."

He said that the matters were brought to the attention of the Department last month and the Department immediately heeded the call.

"The house for Siphelele has been built to conform to the norms and standards of a disabled person."

Zenzile and the two have benefitted through the Department’s Destitute and Vulnerable Groups Programme, which prioritises the elderly, disabled, child headed and military veterans.

"The Programme remains one of the transformative programmes which relates to Mandela’s deepest passion for the poor and disabled," Mazizi said.

"The Provincial Mandela Day celebrations will be held in Joe Gqabi District Municipality later this month."

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