A 47-year-old homeless man could not contain his joy when he heard that a building construction company has set aside R55 000 to build him a house and buy him some furniture.

Mr Josepth Khuba's one-roomed, mud-brick house was destroyed by a rain storm on the night of 5 September last year when he and his spouse, Ms Azwindini Selina Maano (39, were fast asleep at their home in Tshikwarani in the Kutama area. He was left homeless.

Rendeals Four Consulting has committed itself to building a four-roomed house for Khuba and Maano, after Cllr Nndwamato Kutama (Ward 26) had requested a donation of a house for the indigent couple. “We anticipate that the work should be completed before the end of January,” said Rendeals Four Consulting's CEO, Mr Goddard Masiavhula.

Masiavhula said that he was deeply touched by the family's painful situation when Cllr Kutama forwarded him the sad news and pictures of the collapsed house. He then decided to help out when there was still time. The company is based in Johannesburg, while Masiavhula originally came from Tshikwarani.

The opening-of-the-site construction event was attended by Khosi Vho-Vele Kutama and members of both the Kutama Traditional Authority and Kutama Royal Council, and Rendeals' site developer, Mr David Masemola.

Makhado Municipality's representative, Mr Patrick Mobbie, indicated at length that the municipality encouraged projects of this nature. “We are also happy to see this kind of good relationship between the ward councillors and the traditional council,” Mobbie said. “I want to believe that it is the kind of this relationship which convinced Rendeals Four Consulting to agree to build a house for a needy family.”

As a result of this project, at least four unemployed people have been hired to work on the project as a short-term relief measure.

Mr Khuba and his spouse manage to scratch out a living by performing small chores in households around the village. "I cannot tell how great my joy has become," said Khuba. "People (Kutama Traditional Authority and Cllr Kutama) came to inform me about the house to be built for me. I didn't ask for a house.This is a true gift! "