MORE than 70 members of the Inkululeko Neighbourhood Watch rolled up their sleeves and cleaned the home of an elderly couple living in Enkululekweni Zone 2 recently.
The watch was launched in February with committee member Elias Magwayi saying they were concerned about the living conditions of Mwandile Mdingi, 72, and Novayedwa Mavaleliso, 68.“We have been a democratic country for 23 years and when we saw their house, we realised that no one deserved to live like that.”
The house received a new coat of paint and some repairs and maintenance work was done.“It was as if they were living in a kraal. Nothing was working, the taps had no running water and the toilet was broken. They could not fix it themselves,” Magwayi said.
Food was also provided. “It is bad to see old people not having anything to eat. When we asked them about their grant money, we heard that their cards were at a cash loan business. They told us the man only buys them porridge to eat.” He said the watch will continue to assist the vulnerable in the area.
“Freedom means not only telling people they are free but doing something about their situation. We want to see people living a better life, from the young to the old in our communities.”
Mavaleliso told The Rep there were many old people in a similar situation in the township.“We are so happy to have caring people. They have shown us love and these people have been sent by God to rescue us.”
She said they were both sick and they had no one to take care of them. “Our children are in Cape Town. They only come back in December and we rely on each other for assistance. We need more people in the communities to be involved in such initiatives – to create a better world for the future.”
