An 83-year-old granny from Mandala village in the Thulamela municipality has been living in unbearable conditions in a tent since early January this year. Ms Elelwani Ndou´s mud house was destroyed by floods back in the year 2000, and ever since, she has had to scramble around to find a decent roof over her head.

The Thulamela municipality donated a tent earlier this year after being approached for comment about Ms Ndou´s plight by the media. Ms Elelwani Ndou shares the tent with her two disabled grandsons. She said she registered for an RDP house in 2003, but was told by the local elected committee responsible for allocating RDP houses in her village that she did not qualify.

Ndou doesn´t have anyone to take care of her, since her two grandsons are both disabled. She expressed anger towards the current ruling party, saying that they had promised her an RDP house, but still they hadn´t delivered on their promise. She alleges that, due to her unsafe living conditions, she has been raped not once but on several occasions. Frustrated and powerless, Ndou says she is waiting for a Good Samaritan to save her from her poor living conditions.

“What gets to me the most is the fact that our local councillor, Mpfariseni Nyambeni, knows about our situation but he has not done anything about it," said one of the grandsons, Mulaudzi Athivhakoni. "The tent is not a safe environment for anyone to live in, especially for an old person such as my grandmother."

Members of the Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment unit, as well as members of the Siloam police, visited Ms Elelwani´s house last Wednesday to inspect her living conditions and also her health. According to police spokesperson WO Itani Muila, the police will investigate the matter, especially the allegations that the woman had been raped a number of times. "A case will be opened if the old woman agrees to press charges of rape," he said. He added that the police could not do anything until a case was opened.

The local councillor, Mr Mpfariseni Nyambeni, denied allegations that he did not get involved. He said that he had followed all the necessary procedures and the matter was now in the hands of the Department of Local Government. Nyambeni said he would pursue the matter and visit the Ndou family again. The Thulamela Municipality´s spokesperson, Mr Ndwamato Tshila, said the municipality had no record of such an issue and he would ask Cllr Nyambeni to brief him on the matter.

The chief of Mandala village, Vhamusanda Vho-Dzumbuluwani Tshivhase, said he had written a number of letters to the municipality three months ago and was still waiting for a reply. "The police tried to get involved in the matter and the foundation of the house was laid early January, but due to unforeseen circumstances, the project stopped. An inspector came in and called off the building of the house, saying it was not on the list," said Vhamusanda Vho-Dzumbuluwani. He said he still had all the letters from the municipality to prove that he was doing something about Ms Ndou´s situation.

One of the neighbours, Mr Matodzi Mulanduausini, said that Ms Elelwani´s situation was difficult to accept. "I usually come and cook for her when I am not at work, since she doesn´t have anyone who looks after her," he said.