Mangcongco and Mhlambanyatsi residents welcomed three newly built homes for elderly citizens during a ceremony officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla today. The beneficiaries had been living in unsafe stick-and-mud houses with collapsing walls and leaking roofs, leaving them exposed to the rainy season.
At Mangcongco, Gogo Dorah Shabalala, 78, received a new two-roomed house constructed by the Sanctuary of Praise Church, led by Rev. Dambuza Ntjalintjali. The church initially tried to renovate her old home, but structural issues made it impossible. Rev. Ntjalintjali said the church partnered with government after confirming her registration with Social Welfare Officers. Gogo Shabalala’s younger sister described seeing water pour through the old house during a storm, leaving her in tears.
In Mlindazwe, Mhlambanyatsi, siblings Mkhulu Boy Jockonia Zwane, 72, and Siphiwe Sibongile Zwane, 66, were handed new homes commissioned by Her Majesty Indlovukazi through Ntombi Matse. The National Disaster Management Agency built the houses following concerns about the siblings’ difficult living conditions. Blankets were also donated to the family by Inkhosikati LaNkambule. 
The handover ceremony was attended by Chief Senzenyoni and Princesses Siphila, Sandzisile, and Ncengencenge, alongside local community members. Deputy Prime Minister Dladla said the homes would protect the elderly from harsh weather and ensure they live comfortably.
