A 33-year-old unemployed woman who, together with her two children, lived in a dilapidated tin shack, shed tears of joy when the founder of  The Living Gospel World Mission Church, Dr Maswole Ragimana, and Thulamela Mayor Grace Mahosi handed over a new house to her.

The event took place a fortnight ago.

Ms Funanani Mukwevho and her two children, Mulweli (10) and Uhone (3 months) of Tshivhulani outside Thohoyandou could not believe their eyes when the keys to the new house were handed over to them. She could not hold back tears of joy as the mayor opened the door, marking the official opening of the house.

“God is great! I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would one day have a beautiful house like this one. Life was tough for me and my children, for example when it rained, we had to sit the whole night as it was water all over. Sometimes thieves would just break in and steal whatever was in the house.”

Ragimana said the church should look after the poor. “The early church took care of the poor. Some even sold their belongings to cater for the disadvantaged. We have taken it upon ourselves, through our welfare programme, to feed and clothe the poor,” he added.

He thanked the contractor, Mr Makhwedzha, for the selfless work he was doing for the church and the community. Thulamela Mayor Grace Mahosi thanked Ragimana and his church for the good work he was doing for the community.

‘We are very happy to have a church that understands our language as government that alone we cannot do things for all our people, but if the church identifies some of the poor people and assists them, we will do more for our people together,” she said.