A resident of Mashamba's two-room mud house collapsed some five years ago and he has been living in an unstable place arranged for him by a ward councillor for the past three years, while waiting for an RDP house to become available. Last week, the community of Mashamba spoke in one voice and agreed that they must donate building material to build a one-room abode for the 53-year-old indigent Phinias Fhedzisani Singo.

Every household contributed a single brick and, for those who could afford it, a bag of cement. One lady in particular had donated a door, door frame and five bags of cement, while another gentleman made a huge contribution of seven corrugated sheets for the roofing.

“I am happy that they are building a house for me,” says Singo. “It's winter now and where I am temporarily staying is not warm.”

Singo's children are currently not living with him for lack of shelter. He says that he hopes that once the house is finished, his children will come back home.

According to the chairperson of the local Sanco branch, Rose Mudau, the house should be completed by the end of this week. “They need to keep warm from this icy winter,” says Mudau.

Mudau further indicated that Singo's mother has just passed away and that she would be buried over the weekend. She adds that a number of youths within the Mashamba community and the neighbouring villages have volunteered to build the house for free in honour of Singo's mother.