House built on hope

The Motheo Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College in Bloemfontein has positively changed the life of cente­narian Piet Lejara (109), building him a brick house.

It was officially presented to him on 18 July by the college’s executive management. This coincided with late former president Nelson Mandela’s birthday and the 67 Minutes for Mandela campaign. The handover was the highlight of the college’s 67 Minutes programme.

Lame Morubane, college spokesperson, said the house had been built by the students of the college’s Building and Civil Construction Learnership, under the guidance of the Diteboho Group as contractor.

He said the college had decided to task the students with building the house, as this was a perfect opportunity to gain experience.

He said the value of the house was R300 000 and that Panasonic had donated building material, while Canton Management Consulting donated furniture.

Dipiloane Phutsisi, college principal, donated bedding and curtains, while Mphela Kgasago, deputy principal, donated curtain accessories.

Lejara resides in Caleb Motshabi Street in the Mafora settlement. It is a new residential deve­lopment south of Bloemfontein.

He and his family had been living in a shack dwelling.

Adv. Xolile Xuma, chairperson of the college council, discovered the plight of Lejara and immediately took initiative.