Chairperson, on Friday, 7 September 2007, the SABC handed over a house to a blind woman and her family in Khayelitsha on the Cape Flats. The house was built through a joint venture by the broadcaster, the Department of Correctional Services and the provincial department of housing and local government.
The house was constructed by prisoners after the SABC highlighted the plight of the woman during Women's Month. The woman's daughter is a rape survivor and they will share the house with another daughter and her mentally unstable husband. The recipient is fortunate to be alive today because the shack in which she previously lived was flattened by a stolen vehicle shortly after she was moved out of her shack to a place of safety.
SABC staff dedicated a full Saturday, about four weeks ago, to assisting in the construction of the house. On that day, the woman broke down in tears when she heard that she would soon become a homeowner.
The ANC congratulates the SABC, sponsors and government departments on contributing to making the dream possible for this family to own their house. We further call on other institutions and sponsors to follow the example they set and to join hands in the fight against poverty. Thank you very much.