After years of living without a permanent home, 105-year-old Gogo Lucy Raseboka has finally received the keys to her own RDP house in Lufhereng, Soweto. Gogo Lucy first applied for an RDP at the age of 76, but for decades, she moved from place to place, struggling to find stability. Her long wait was finally rewarded on Thursday, 6 February, as government officials handed her the keys to her new home, a moment she watched with disbelief.
Gogo Lucy’s daughter, Phyllis, who has shared in her mother’s difficult journey, spoke on her behalf, revealing the hardships they endured. Phyllis shared that the family had been forced to rent backrooms, and when rent became too expensive, they built a shack in Freedom Park. Despite fears of safety, they moved in, facing the harsh realities of life without a permanent roof over their heads. In 2016, the family relocated to a shelter in the Joburg CBD, where they struggled with cramped living conditions.
The Raseboka family’s story is one of resilience, having endured forced removals during apartheid, living in shelters, and facing years of uncertainty as they waited for an RDP house. Their journey began in 1996 when they first applied for an RDP in Diepkloof, Soweto, and despite multiple reapplications over the years, they had to wait until now for their home. Phyllis also highlighted the massive backlog in housing applications, with 300,000 people still waiting for homes in the province.
On the day Gogo Lucy received her keys, a total of 42 beneficiaries were celebrated for finally receiving their homes, ranging in age and including individuals with disabilities. The long-awaited delivery of homes, though slow, provides hope for many families who have waited for decades, just as Gogo Lucy and her family have.
