Durban - The woman given a house next to President Jacob Zuma's Nkandla homestead by the EFF says she has become the laughing stock of her community now that the dwelling is falling apart.
The house, near Zuma’s controversial home, was built with much fanfare and handed to Sthandiwe Hlongwane's family in January last year as part of Economic Freedom Fighters’ leader Julius Malema’s campaign for the 2014 general elections.
More than a year later, Hlongwane says the house has brought her more problems and is a health hazard to her and her family.
Falling apart
“The walls are cracking, the ceiling board is caving in because it is poorly supported on the roof, and we don’t have water connection system. I think the roof is going to collapse very soon,” said Hlongwane, 32.
"I am inviting Malema to come and see for himself what the house looks like because after he came here [last year], I had problems in the community, which is majority ANC members. The community feels like I was targeted by the Economic Freedom Fighters in order for them to try and win votes in the president’s own backyard.
"I am sure he [Malema] thinks that the house is fine. We have a veranda with no steps, the walls are cracking and there is just so much that is wrong with the house,” Hlongwane said.
(Amanda Khoza, News24)
She speculated that the builders had misspent the money.
“If I had Floyd Shivambu and Dali Mpofu’s numbers, I would call them to report this myself,” she said, referring to two of the party’s MPs.
“I have tried to call Malema several times, but now that he is in Parliament, he is not answering. The ANC is probably looking at me and laughing now that the house if falling apart,” she said.
Not ungrateful
Last year around April, Hlongwane called regional EFF leaders, who came to repair the roof. But it is still falling apart, she said.
“I think the original plans for the house were changed, this is why it is falling apart. They left the bathroom unfinished and there is no water connection. When you build a house you make sure that everything is connected before you deem the project finished,” she said.
(Amanda Khoza, News24)
Hlongwane said her partner Lucky Nene, 60, had helped her put in a bathtub.
She said she did not want to appear ungrateful or complacent.
“Please don’t get me wrong, we are happier. This house is so much better than what we had before. Today we have shelter. We have a roof over our heads because I am poor. This is good enough for me and my family.”
However, she said the roof needed fixing.
“We need them to come and fix the roof and the ceiling board. I have been trying to call Malema and some of the EFF members in KZN and I think they want nothing to do with us. No one answers when you call. I think they got what they wanted.”
Used to gain support
Hlongwane believes the EFF used her and her family to gain support.
“I don’t think they will come back to fix it. Maybe the DA or the ANC will fix the house.”
Malema’s phone rang unanswered and he did not respond to a query sent via SMS.
EFF KZN leader Vusi Khoza said Hlongwane had not reported the problem.
“This is the first time that I am hearing about this. I will call her and arrange to go and see the house and arrange to repair what needs to be repaired,” he said.
(Amanda Khoza, News24)