• Sandiswa Bakuba is still waiting for the house promised by Fikile Mbalula and the ward councillor during ANC’s January birthday celebrations in Khayelitsha.

• Ward councillor Lonwabo Mqina says he only received City of Cape Town permission last week, and the matter is now with Human Settlements.

A 35-year-old disabled woman from Khayelitsha is still waiting for Fikile Mbalula and her ward councillor to keep their promise of building her a house.

Sandiswa Bakuba, who uses elbow crutches after her left leg was amputated in 2010, said the promise was made during the ANC’s 113th birthday celebrations in January.

The ward councillor arrived at her shack in the New Culture informal settlement with Mbalula and other ANC members and promised her a house.

“I was so happy to see them, and they promised that the house would be built the following month, which was February, but until now they haven’t updated me about anything,” said Bakuba.

She has been trying to get answers from the ward councillor.

“I cannot get hold of Mbalula, so I hoped that my councillor would assist since he’s the one who came with Mbalula and he knows how to get hold of him,” said Bakuba.

“When the promise was made, I was happy because I was no longer going to stress about heavy rains or fires that are common in informal settlements.”

She feels that they played her.

“Now we are approaching the end of the year, and they are nowhere to be found. I would not have had a problem if they had updated me, but now they are all quiet,” said Bakuba.

“All I want is for them to keep the promise, they must build me the house they promised.”

Ward councillor Lonwabo Mqina said he only got permission to occupy from the City of Cape Town last week.

“I understand her frustration, but she’s not telling the truth when she says I was not updating her and that we couldn’t do anything without getting permission,” said Mqina.

“Now that we have the permission to occupy, everything is at Human Settlements. The lady will get an update soon.”

Bakuba lives in constant fear of heavy rains and fires that are common in informal settlements.

Pictured above: During the ANC’s 113th birthday celebrations in Cape Town, Fikile Mbalula and the ward councillor promised a lady a house. She says they have now gone quiet.

Pictured above: Supplied by Sandiswa Bakuba