A YOUNG mother who had been living in horrible conditions on a farm in Rocklands and whose daughter’s alleged murderer still roams the streets, has been given a new dwelling in St Albans by a local NPO.
Veronica Makwena (24) now has access to clean water and electricity, necessities that she had been deprived of for a long time.
PE Express previously reported on Makwena, who lived in a dark room with her one-year-old son, Daniel, sister Monica and her four nieces and nephews.
The room had no windows or furniture and there were no toilet facilities, electricity or water on the farm. The room, in a dilapidated outbuilding on the farm, served as a kitchen, living room and bedroom all-in-one and had no proper door.
To make matters worse, Makwena, who has no ID and can therefore not receive a government income, has still not received any justice for her daughter, Chantal (5), who was raped and murdered last year.
“The only toilet there was the one my daughter was murdered in and we just couldn’t use it,” Makwena said as she relaxed under a tree outside her new dwelling, located in an open field covered with bright yellow and purple flowers.
This new home is in sharp contrast with the previous one and has natural light streaming in from all angles. The spacious shack has electricity, a proper door, windows and even a small vegetable garden at the back.
Makwena said that they got water from a nearby communal water tank and were only waiting for the construction of a toilet to be completed.
“I am so happy to be living in better conditions and I’ve only been here a short while, but I love it here. At the previous place we struggled a lot, but I am very grateful for the help that we’ve received,” she added.
The Giving Gifts of Love to Newborn Babies NPO is responsible for Makwena’s improved living conditions and has been taking care of this family by providing them with food, clothing and water.
CEO of the NPO, Desiree Goodwin, said that they wanted to place the family here because it’s very close to the schools that the children will be able to attend.
“The 10-year-old has never attended. We had a meeting at the school and the children are starting next term. They are very behind,” Goodwin said.
“I’m just glad that they could get out of that place and move here. It took us about two and a half months to build the structure and half of the building materials were donated. Most of her problems have been addressed, but Veronica still doesn’t have an ID or justice for her daughter,” she added.
Goodwin has been fighting tirelessly to get the DNA of Chantal’s alleged murderer tested but due to a delay at the lab conducting the tests, this has been a major challenge.
Goodwin previously mentioned that when she communicated with the lab, she was informed of a lack of funds and a major huge backlog related to the testing of DNA.
“We have actually just received word that the girl [Chantal’s] case will be prioritised and the DNA tested soon,” she said.
Social Development spokesperson, Sibabalwa Nkebe, said that a new social worker had been appointed to Makwena’s case as the previous one recently passed away.
“The new social worker will continue with the process of assisting her to get an ID. We have to remember that everything was at a standstill during lockdown; things are only starting to pick up now and getting back to normal,” Nkebe said. “Otherwise, the department will assist until the family is able to sustain themselves.”
