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R/£ Joy as grieving family get a house
November 27, 2009 Edition 1
Sapa
THERE were scenes of joy in the Molweni area outside Hillcrest in KZN yesterday when the government handed over a house to the family of Skhumbuzo Mhlongo, who committed suicide after being refused an identity document.
"We are very happy and this brings tears because we have never have a house since we were born," said Skhumbuzo's sister, Zandile Mhlongo, as tears ran down her face.
Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Social Development Minister Edna Molewa, KZN Premier Zweli Mkhize, KZN Social Development MEC Mishack Radebe and Young Communist League national secretary Buti Manamela handed over the house to the Mhlongo siblings.
Zandile, 24, said their parents died when they were young and that they were renting a house at the time her brother committed took his own life.
In his suicide letter, Mhlongo accused a Pinetown Home Affairs official of tearing up his application for an identity document, effectively preventing him from getting a job.
In the letter Mhlongo, of Nqetho outside Pinetown, also claimed he could not get an identity document because he was not accompanied by his parents when he made the application.
Two Home Affairs officials have since been dismissed in connection with the incident.
Speaking during the handover, Dlamini-Zuma said her department would embark on a campaign to register all young people who did not have birth certificates.
The department would also ensure that babies were registered at birth.
Mhlongo did not have a birth certificate when he applied for his ID.
"We want to make sure that what happened to Mhlongo does not happen again," said Dlamini-Zuma.
"It is easy to get an ID if one is in the population register, because there is no need for interviews," she said.
Dlamini-Zuma, who burst into tears during Mhlongo's funeral, was all smiles when the house was handed over.
The government facilitated the building of the house, which was paid for and built by local contractor Moses Phiri, of Mochu Civil Engineers.
The house is fully furnished and has three bedrooms. It also has a bathroom and a dining room.
Phiri said he had budgeted R216 000 for the building of the house and that he ended up spending just over R160,000.
"I was very touched by Skhumbuzo's story and I decided to do something for his sisters and brothers, who had no home," said Phiri.
The furniture was paid for the Young Communist League and a number of individuals.
The Department of Social Development also gave the Mhlongos groceries.
"We got involved in this matter because we believe there are many young people who are struggling to get IDs," said Manamela.
He said the organisation had launched the Kabelo Thibedi ID Campaign to ensure that young people obtained their IDs. Thibedi was arrested a few years ago after holding Home Affairs officials at gunpoint when he failed to get an ID.
Manamela urged young people not to resort to committing suicide if they did not get IDs: "If they have encountered problems when applying for IDs, they must take the matter to relevant authorities so that they can be assisted."
Mkhize commended all involved in the building of the house, saying it would bring dignity to the Mhlongos.
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