The family of Ms Salphinah Ramashia (49) of Hamakhuvha outside Thohoyandou, who were promised a house a year ago, were in a joyful mood this week when Limpopo Mirror paid them a visit.

They had just received a brand new four-roomed house, better than the RDP standard-issue houses.

The house has been donated by the contractors who were contracted to build the local Makhuvha Stadium by the Thulamela municipality.

The foundation was laid amidst fanfare by the contractors, the local traditional leader, municipal officials, the senior traditional leader of the area, Vho Thovhele Gole Mphaphuli, and other community members. That was during the Mandela 67 minutes in 2012.

The house was never built and a foundation slab was all that was left for the family. During this year’s Mandela Day celebrations, Limpopo Mirror paid the family a visit, only to find a pile of bricks and the same foundation that was constructed last year. Ms Ramashia then described her disappointment and Mirror ran a story, publicizing her plight.

Thulamela Municipality confirmed that there had been some problems and promised to do a follow-up. The municipality also gave the assurance that the house would finally be built.

True to their promise, an official from the municipality called to say that the house was completed. When this paper visited the family last weekend, we were met with smiling faces.

The family has a brightly painted and very decent four-roomed house, where the mother now has privacy and the children have ample room to do their school work. The house has been furnished and more furniture is still to come.

Ramanyimi could not hide her excitement. “Mirror, you really did a good deed. I was stuck with no one ready to rescue me. All had turned against me until you publicised my plight and then it did not take long for everyone to come running; the house was built within a week. Continue doing the good work and helping people like us who are helpless,” she said.