Life will never be the same for the Rikhotso siblings at Homu village outside Giyani after a brand new house was handed to them during a ceremony last Sunday.

The destitute siblings, Beatrice (21), Aventina (19) and Freeman (16), have been without a decent home since they were born, but are now the proud owners of a modest four-roomed house, thanks to the national housing department, in conjunction with the provincial department of local government and housing, N&N Property Developers, Media Build and other stakeholders.

The siblings’ misery did not end at home as they did not even have anybody to help them with uniforms and other school necessities after the death of their mother, Letta, in 2003. They lived in an old and dilapidated shack for years without anybody taking note of their plight, until ward councilor Johanna Maluleke (well-known as Mamajowie) took it upon herself to publicize their plight.

The MEC for Local Government and Housing in the province, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, handed over the house to the Rikhotso family at a function held at Homu village on Sunday.

Hundreds of residents, including the mayor of Giyani, Ms Angie Ramaipadi, the local traditional leader, Hosi Hlengani Homu, government officials and officials from Media Build, excitedly witnessed the historic moment when the MEC for local government, Nkoana Mashabane, cut the ribbon and handed over the keys of the new home to the previously disadvantaged kids.

MEC Nkoana-Mashabane urged more businesspeople and media houses to join government in the fight against the housing backlog in the province and nationally. Mashabane said the government was faced with a massive housing backlog which needed all to use their hands and fight for a common goal, that of building homes and not just houses for the disadvantaged. She said the home her department and other stakeholders had built was a tribute to women like Rikhotso, who had died and left her kids with no one to care for them.

“As we celebrate Women’s Month, we again reaffirm our commitment to caring for others, more especially vulnerable children. It takes a woman to bring a child into this earth but will need the whole village to raise the child,” she said. Nkoana-Mashabane said despite the backlog, government could look back with pride as it was the only country which built more than 2 million houses that were given for free to the poor. She said her department could proudly announce that it was able to provide more than 300 000 units of housing for free. Mashabane said it was everybody’s responsibility and not government’s alone to provide shelter to the less fortunate in the country. “It is only through partnerships like these that we have achieved this much. Let us continue holding hands in our quest for better life for all,” she said.

The Greater Giyani Municipality’s mayor, Cllr Angie Ramaipadi, said the pain the siblings were going through was a thorn in her flesh as she could not sleep well while knowing that they did not have a roof over their heads. “It is like a dream come true to me and the kids as I have always wanted them to have a decent shelter. Today I will sleep peacefully, knowing that we have succeeded in making their dreams come true.” Ramaipadi committed herself and the municipality to looking after the kids.

The local traditional leader, Hosi Hlengani Homu, said many of his subjects did not have proper shelter as they were not working. He said that the remote location of his village meant fewer opportunities for his subjects and this was a contributing factor towards poverty. He said it was encouraging to see government taking a bold step in providing shelter to the less fortunate like the Rikhotso kids.

Homu said he was extremely happy that the kids had at long last found a place they could call home. “We have many cases of this nature in this village but this one was the worst and we are just happy that they have been catered for We wish that government will build more and more homes for the needy”, he said.

Beatrice, the eldest of the kids, said she was excited at the prospect of owning a place they can now call their home. “Our dignity has been restored and we now feel like human beings again,” she said excitedly. The weeping Beatrice, who could not contain herself, said they were not performing to their fullest at school as they did not even have uniforms. “From now onwards, our performance will improve and we shall not disappoint the government which has become like a parent to us,” she said. She said her mother had wished that they would have a decent home one day but she unexpectedly died before her dreams could be realized. “This is a special tribute to my mother. I hope and wish that she rests in peace, knowing that we are now well looked after,” she said. She said with the gift the government had given them the sky was the limit. “With everything at our disposal there is no excuse; we will make it and we will never disappoint,” she said.