By Anita Dangazele
Poto Dyantyisi, 110, who has lived in a shack for most of his life, received a house for the first time on Thursday.
Eastern Cape human settlements MEC Siphokazi Lusithi handed the happy pensioner the keys to his new home in the small town of Patensie, in the Eastern Cape.
Grandpa Poto, who lived in a shack with seven siblings, said he had always wanted a proper home and that his dream had come true.
“I am deeply moved to see this new house built for me,” he said.
Lusithi said the event was a special way to honour South Africa’s first black president, Nelson Mandela, and showed the government’s commitment to helping the most vulnerable.
“Today, on Mandela Day, we celebrate a big milestone in our nation’s history. It is a day when we show our commitment to prioritising the needs of our elderly citizens and people living with disabilities.
“This commitment is reflected in our destitute programmes, and we are here today, in the spirit of Nelson Mandela, to give importance to this day through action,” Lusithi said.
He said the local ward councillor brought Poto’s desperate situation to the department’s attention.
“We saw the immediate need to improve his living conditions and enrolled him in our destitute programme,” Lusithi said.
Sarah Baartman district municipality executive mayor Deon de Vos praised the provincial human settlements department for its quick action.
“It is a very emotional day, especially because we have given a house to one of our oldest citizens.
“We have many unemployed young people and more elderly people needing houses, but we are working on building more houses,” said De Vos.
Pictured above: Poto Dyantyisi, 110, receives the keys to his new house.
Source: Supplied
