December 1, 2005
By Buhle Makabane
IT IS the 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender and child abuse, and 16 Soweto families are soon to receive new houses. The houses are destined for women and their children who are survivors of abuse.
The 16 houses are being built in Doornkop - one for each day of the campaign. Construction started on 25 November, coinciding with International Day of No Violence Against Women and the start of the campaign.
The houses are being built by the provincial Department of Housing under the People's Housing Process (PHP) programme. Beneficiaries have all been abused by their spouses, boyfriends, strangers or by family members.
A home at last: Gauteng MEC for Housing Nomvula Mokonyane with Tryphina Pohotuna
Gauteng MEC for Housing Nomvula Mokonyane, dressed in blue overalls, got stuck into the construction yesterday, mixing sand and laying bricks. "This is one [of] many ways of empowering survivors of abusive relationships and domestic violence, providing shelter so that they can live peacefully with their children," she said.
According to the department, local builders are being used in the build.
"This is another way of empowering emerging black constructors and victims of abuse," it said.
"Unemployed youth and volunteers within the community of Doornkop will take part in the construction process with the purpose of attaining skills from qualified builders from the community."
Councillor of ward 50, Kenny Dlamini added he was pleased people were getting housing adding, "The fact that our government is assisting people is a very good idea."
The recipients got a chance to tell their stories.
One recipient, 69-year-old Tryphina Pohotuna, has never owned her own house before. She was injured at work, resulting in Pohotuna making ends meet by selling vegetables on the street.
After family disputes, she was kicked out of her mother's house and had to move from one place to another, until she finally moved to Doornkop in 1991 with her seven children. She later applied for a PHP housing subsidy.
"PHP is a housing programme that is aimed at supporting households who wish to enhance their subsidies by building or managing the building of their own houses," said the department.
Pohotuna lives on her pension grant; ill health has forced her to stop selling vegetables.
Each beneficiary met the criteria for selection: most were survivors of domestic violence, single parents with dependents, had no proper house and were older than 45.
The houses will be handed over to the new homeowners on 10 December. The 16 Days campaign aims to highlight gender and child violence. It runs from 25 November to 10 December.
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