The family of a murdered Nombulelo High school pupil are appealing to the Makana Municipality for land so that a house can be built for them, but the municipality have been reluctant to grant their request for fear of setting a precedent.
The family of a murdered Nombulelo High school pupil are appealing to the Makana Municipality for land so that a house can be built for them, but the municipality have been reluctant to grant their request for fear of setting a precedent.
Faniswa Centwa and her two childen have no home of her own and are living with five other relatives in a cramped RDP house in Extension 8. Her daughter, Zingiswa, was raped and murdered in December 2010.
According to a report from a social worker, the family is from Broklands farm and came to Grahamstown in 1987. They were renting until Faniswa’s grandmother got a house in 1997. Centwa is a domestic worker and has a son, Siyanda, who is 22 years old and another child in Grade 3.
Grocott’s Mail spoke to Siyanda who said that eight people are currently living in the RDP house and the main problem was space. “What my mother needs the most is her own house. She has always wanted that,’ he said, adding that his mother had applied for a house in the Mayfied housing development.
Siyanda would like to study at tertiary level but says financial constraints have prevented him from doing so. “I was accepted to study theology at Helderberg College in Somerset East , but I cannot afford to study. “I want to help poor people and other people going through personal difficulties. When you study theology, you are taught on counselling. So I would be able to help people going through death or marriage problems and give them hope.”
The family's appeal for land was raised at a council meeting recently in a report which included a letter dated 21 July 2011 from the Unemployed People’s Movement, requesting the donation of land on behalf of the family. The letter stated that building materials have been secured. According the letter, “Ms Centwa’s mother has nothing at all, and she has recently been evicted from the mud hut that she was leasing. Her world is falling apart. Something must be done.”
The mayoral committee discussed the matter in August, and resolved to approach the department of social development to assess the situation. Grocott's Mail spoke to Executive Mayor, Zamuxolo Peter, who said that councillors were of the opinion that granting this request would set a precedent for other people to make similar applications..
