The family of Moses Mnisi in Nthabalala were incredibly happy when a good Samaritan, Mr Mpho Mathoho of the Mathoho Foundation, pledged to build them a six-room house.
The family of 11 live in a ragged tent. Mnisi shed tears of joy when Mathoho visited the family last Friday and promised to build them a house. The family had been without a stable shelter after a storm destroyed their house in 2000, and the family have been waiting for an RDP house since 2001.
Mr Mpho Mathoho said he was told of the misery the poor family was going through. "I went to the home, and what I saw was heart-breaking. I found a torn tent and imagined the pain they were going through," said Mathoho. "The little I can do to change people's lives will give me peace of mind, and I will continue doing this in as much as God wishes me to," he said.
"As a businessman, I have to take care of the poor," he added. "We have big challenges of unemployment and poverty in our communities. Those who are blessed should share their blessings with the less fortunate, and I appeal to local businesses to be of help to the community," he said. Mathoho said that the project of building the house would start within three weeks.
Mnisi thanked Mathoho for the good work he was doing for the community. "I am a poor man who did not have any place to stay after my mud house collapsed two decades ago. I thank Mathoho from the bottom of my heart and wish God to give him many years to live," he said. He said the donation came at the right time because he did not have any shelter. "I initially thought that I was neglected, but I am very thankful because I know that there are people who care out there," he added.
Thovhele Vho-Vhutshilo Nthabalala stated that most families consisted of unemployed people and they needed to get assistance from the community. "They did not choose to be poor, and they need to be uplifted by those who can do something for them." He appealed to other community members to assist the poor in the development of society and mentioned that the donation was based "on love and brotherhood". He thanked Mathoho for his kind gesture.