Siphelele Nketo 

MOVING into a brand-new house was an exciting milestone for the underprivileged family of Nomagaga in Ntabankulu, Eastern Cape. With a fresh start and modern comfort, the family recently welcomed a fully-furnished RDP house after many years of misery. The family has been surviving on a R350 social grant with no other form of income.

The social grant could only cover food, school necessities for children and other basic household needs. Family member Phathiswa Nomagaga expressed her gratitude for the two-bedroom RDP house fitted with furniture. The house, according to the Department of Human Settlements, was built under a housing programme targeting 300 units in Ward 8 and Ward 9.

The project has so far built 166 units. Each house is 40 square metres and includes a water tank and toilet.