Hda Extends Care Beyond Housing For Gogo Shandu
Joyfulness, gratitude, and heartfelt emotion filled the day as the HDA team spent time with Gogo Sophie Shandu (103) and her family, reaffirming the Agency’s commitment to compassion, dignity, and community upliftment.
Gogo Shandu is a beneficiary of a standard two-bedroom house comprising of a living area and kitchen, built by the Housing Development Agency (HDA), in line with the assigned mandate and following a structural integrity assessment commissioned by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Human Settlements (KZN DHS).
The assessment was conducted in the Illovu/Felekisi area within the eThekwini Municipality, where Gogo Shandu had been residing in a single-room mud-block dwelling that posed serious safety and structural risks. The original structure was unsafe and non-compliant with National Building Regulations, featuring a rusted and leaking corrugated iron roof, the absence of proper windowpanes, and a weakened superstructure with substandard rafters and unstable support beams. These conditions placed the lives and dignity of the household at serious risk. At 103 years old, Gogo Shandu lives with her five children and two grandchildren. Guided by its mandate to support sustainable human settlements and protect vulnerable households, the HDA intervened decisively by constructing a safe and permanent home.
The new four-bedroom house was officially handed over to Gogo Shandu by the Minister of Human Settlements on 20 August 2025, marking a significant milestone. This moment symbolised more than the delivery of a house; it represented the restoration of safety, dignity, and renewed hope for the Shandu family. However, during subsequent engagements, the HDA team observed that despite having a safe and dignified home, Gogo Shandu and her family still lacked basic household essentials. Deeply moved by her circumstances, the HDA felt compelled to extend its support beyond bricks and mortar. Through the HDA CARES Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme, the Agency returned to spend Christmas with Gogo Shandu and her family, handing over essential groceries to ease the household’s needs during the festive season.
This act of compassion was made possible through the collective generosity of members of the HDA Executive Committee (EXCO), led by Chief Executive Officer Mr. Bheki Khenisa, who responded to an internal HDA CARES call to action by donating towards the initiative. The gesture brought visible joy and heartfelt gratitude to the Shandu household. In a deeply moving moment, Gogo Shandu humbly expressed her appreciation, stating that it is the Lord who will thank the HDA for its kindness: “Niyobongwa yiNkosi, anginawo amaningi.” (“May the Lord bless you, I have no other words.”)
