Free State Pensioner Receives New Home After Government admits mistake
In a heartwarming moment that symbolizes justice and hope for vulnerable citizens, Maleroele Molato, a 75-year-old pensioner from Naledi Village in the Free State, has finally received the government-built brick house she applied for a decade ago. The long-awaited handover took place this past Saturday, bringing joy and stability to the elderly widow who had been living in a crumbling mud hut.
Molato’s story, which captured national attention following a GroundUp report in April, is one of resilience, bureaucracy, and the power of community advocacy. For ten years, the pensioner waited patiently for a home promised by the government. However, an administrative error linked her name to a house in Gauteng — a province she has never lived in — causing years of delay and despair.
For more than a decade, Molato endured harsh conditions in a deteriorating mud hut, which offered little protection from the elements. Her situation worsened dramatically during the heavy rains in April, which left the structure severely damaged and increasingly uninhabitable.
“I was scared every night,” Molato said, reflecting on her experience. “Every time it rained, I prayed that the walls wouldn’t collapse on me while I was asleep.”
It was only after GroundUp published her story that her plight gained wider recognition. The Free State Department of Human Settlements responded swiftly, promising to investigate and resolve the matter. What followed was a rare example of bureaucratic red tape being cut to prioritize human dignity and safety.
A Joyful Homecoming for the Pensioner
On Saturday, a modest but well-built brick house was handed over to Molato — complete with a bathroom and indoor toilet, features she never had before. Speaking to reporters and community members at the ceremony, the pensioner could not hide her excitement.
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“God has finally answered my prayers,” she said, beaming. “I have never been so happy in my old age. I feel like jumping around. If I were still a teenager, I would jump for joy, but I am old now. I will sleep peacefully in a proper house without fearing that it may collapse.”
The handover event turned into a community celebration. A cow was slaughtered in her honor, and dozens of local residents joined in the festivities. For many, it was not only a celebration of Molato’s new beginning, but also a reminder of the power of collective effort and accountability.
Speaking at the handover, Free State Human Settlements MEC Saki Mokoena praised the journalists and community members who brought Molato’s situation to light. He explained that after seeing the extent of the damage to her previous home, urgent action was taken.
“After we assessed the situation, we realized it was urgent,” said Mokoena. “We appointed a contractor and requested that the house be built within three weeks. Today, we are here to celebrate this milestone with her. The mud house is gone, and in its place stands a proper home with a bath and a toilet.”
Mokoena went on to outline broader plans to address substandard housing in the region. According to him, the department is planning to construct an additional 136 houses in Naledi Village and surrounding areas to replace other mud structures that have become unsafe — particularly in the face of climate change and extreme weather events.
Molato’s story shines a spotlight on the struggles many pensioners in rural South Africa continue to face. For elderly citizens living on fixed incomes and often without close family support, access to safe and adequate housing can mean the difference between life and death.
While her case had a happy ending, it also underscores the need for systemic improvements in government housing databases and service delivery. Mistakes like hers — being incorrectly registered in another province — may be more common than we know, and they disproportionately affect the elderly who may lack the resources or know-how to navigate complex bureaucracies.
As the celebration wound down, Molato had a final message for those who helped her along the way.
“I want to thank everyone who opened their hearts and stood up for me,” she said. “To those in government who did the right thing, and to the journalists who told my story — thank you. You gave me peace in my old age.”
Molato’s new home stands not just as a shelter, but as a symbol of restored dignity. For this pensioner, and many others like her, it’s a reminder that it’s never too late for justice — and never too late to come home.
Source- EWN
