The Minister of Social Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu and the Chairperson of the Collen Mashawana Foundation, Mr Collen Mashawana will on Tuesday, 14 December 2021 officially handover renovated houses to the Mane and Bangidawo families in New Cross Road, Nyanga-Cape Town.

The two neighouring families, whose houses were joined on the roof lost everything in a fire disaster in September this year that left them homeless and destitute. Both households are headed by older persons who were forced to relocate and stay with relatives. The matter was brought to the attention of Minister Zulu who requested the assistance of Collen Mashawana Foundation.

Early this year, the Department of Social Development signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Collen Mashawana Foundation, which focuses on providing decent shelter for older persons, child-headed households and persons with disabilities. To date, the Collen Mashawana Foundation in partnership with Afribiz Invest has built and handed over 200 new houses across the country.

“I visited the families in October this year and saw the extensive damage the fire has caused to the houses and immediately reached out to the Collen Mashwana Foundation who promised to not only renovate, but also to furnish both houses before Christmas. Thanks to the Collen Mashawana Foundation, we will bring the Christmas cheer and most importantly, restore the dignity of our older persons”, said Minister Zulu.

“The building of a capable and responsive government envisioned in the National Development Plan is a responsibility that cannot be carried by government alone, but a national task that demand a whole-of-society approach” added Minister Zulu.

Source: Government of South Africa