By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – The community of Naledi in Maluti-a-Phofung was filled with songs of joy and ululations, as a dilapidated mud house was replaced with a five roomed dignified house—built in just three weeks for 75-year-old Maria Maleroele Malakoane.
Speechless with emotion, Gogo Maria shared her gratitude with The Guard, her voice trembling: “I am happy that this day has come. I am very grateful because my mud house fell due to the rain. My husband has since passed away, but I am still here to witness this miracle. I am happy.” She explained that while her maiden surname is Mdakane, she is known as Malakoane in her marital home.
The celebration was not just a handover of a house—it was a community affair, attended by dignitaries, traditional leaders, and neighbours alike. The home was built under the leadership of MEC Saki Mokoena, who heads the Free State Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and Human Settlements.
“We are not just handing over keys. We are celebrating a promise fulfilled. We committed to completing the house in two weeks, and even though it took three, we are here to celebrate this achievement with nkgono Maleroele and her peers,” Mokoena said to a cheering crowd.
Her 37-year-old grandson, Dankiso Malakoane, reflected on his upbringing in the old mud house. “I was born in 1988 and raised by my grandmother in that house. Today, to see her receiving a formal house is truly a blessing,” he told The Guard.
Neighbour Puleng Mofokeng expressed the shared joy of the community: “As a resident of Naledi, I’m very happy to see the government doing something so meaningful. I hope this kindness can be extended to others too.”
The celebration that was held in the community of Naledi on 24 May was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony, with guests served meat from a cow donated by MEC Mokoena and his department. The event was graced by Maluti-a-Phofung Executive Mayor Malekula Melato, Municipal Manager Motshoahae Mofokeng, the Speaker of Thabo Mofutsanyana District, Thabo Mokoena, and senior traditional leaders including Morena Fusi Tshabalala and Morena Peete Mopeli from Matsieng.
In a time when many only hear promises, Gogo Maria’s new home stands as a testament to what is possible when words are followed by action—and when a community comes together to celebrate the dignity of one of its own.
