The Mzilikazi family, comprising six orphans from Magangeni near Elim, has been waiting for an RDP house for more than a decade. Despite applying in 2012, they have yet to receive assistance, leaving them in dire living conditions.
Their two-room house is falling apart, with leaks during rainfall and an unstable roof that poses a risk of collapsing. The children have struggled to cope, with some even being forced to drop out of school because of their living situation.
The ward councillor who handled their application has since been replaced, and the current councillor has no record of their request. With no progress in sight, the family remains trapped in unsafe conditions, hoping for government intervention.
Evans Mzilikazi, one of the family members, said they faced many challenges without a proper house, and since their mother died in 2020, their situation had only worsened. "We sometimes run out of food, and most of us have dropped out of school to try to make ends meet for our siblings. When it rains, the house leaks, and the roof is unstable. We request the government to build us a safe home," he said.
Makhado Municipality spokesperson Mpho Rathando explained that the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) is prioritising housing for child-headed families. If approved, the family will receive assistance in the next allocation.
"The process starts with screening the beneficiaries. Once they qualify, they are allocated a house," he said.
When asked about the support COGHSTA provides to families struggling with inadequate housing, particularly those with vulnerable children, COGHSTA's director of communications, Tsakani Baloyi, explained that beneficiaries must complete a need registration form at the municipality. The municipality then compiles a list of applicants.
"COGHSTA allocates the budget to municipalities, which then select beneficiaries from the list. If a municipality has a limited number of houses, the family's position on the list determines when they will receive assistance," she said.