Nthupheni Nkhumeleni (58) applied for an RDP house seven years ago, but she is still living in a dilapidated mud hut.

Nkhumeleni, who hails from Phiphidi near Thohoyandou, said she had applied at the Thulamela Municipality for an RDP house in 2007. She said she was told that her name was on the list and she only needed to wait. Much to her surprise, however, the municipality built RDP houses for people who had applied after her.

"I was warned by some municipal officials not to call the media about this. I have lived alone since my eight-year-old son was ritually murdered in 1984. His skeleton was later found by some people near the Tshipata dam between Phiphidi and Tshikunda village. His bones were taken to Pretoria for a forensic investigation and were never brought back. My son was never buried and his soul will never rest in peace," she said.

"My husband died in 1980 after he was knocked down by a car. I was working at the Tshivhase Tea Estate, but lost my job after a car drove into me in 1987. I can't lift heavy objects because of the injuries I sustained, and I received no assistance from the Road Accident Fund," she said.

"Last year, I consulted a social worker at the Phiphidi Clinic about my situation and they wrote a letter to the Thulamela Municipality to help me. The municipality sent a woman, known to me only as Sithodolo, who took photos of me. I have never heard from her since. I rely on charity from my neighbours. My house always floods when it rains, and snakes often find their way in, which gives me sleepless nights. I will be so happy if I could just get a decent house and the remains of my son could be brought back for burial," Nkhumeleni said.

The Thulamela Municipality's spokesperson, Ndwamato Tshiila, said they were aware of the problems faced by Nkhumeleni. "We told her that if the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs allocated disaster houses to us, we would definitely build one for her. She is on the list and we won't forget about her. We have sent a contractor to build a toilet for her, because we know she doesn't have one," Tshiila said.