New house for Cyclone Eloise victim

Constantia Chauke gets new house

The Village Voice

Constantia Chauke, 21, a mother of two from Makhasa Village in the Collins Chabane Local Municipality, who is one of the survivors of the Cyclone Eloise that wreaked havoc in January this year and destroyed many mud huts in Mozambique and Limpopo, including parts of Malamulele is thanking God she is alive.

She has another reason to thank God after a Good Samaritan, out of the blue, came to build her a house to replace the one damaged by the storm and heavy rains.

Insurance company Midey Trading built her a new house at her Makhasa village home under Chief Shigalo replacing the one that was destroyed by the storm.

Chauke, was given keys for the new house by the CEO of Midey Training Fhulufhelo Ogunrinde.

During the hand over, an emotionally affected Constantia said she found herself lucky that she escaped death when the house she and her two children were sleeping on fell down at night.

“The house started falling from the other side, and I was able to take out my two children out for safety,” she said.

The family had two other rondavels whose qualities also left much to be desired and all six members of the family were crammed in those two.
Her plight did not escape the media as she appeared on TV wearing a Midey Trading mask, something that touched the company.

However, the CEO said the fact that she had the company’s mask had no bearing in deciding to assist her.

*An ecstatic Ms Constantia Chauke holds her keys high after a house was handed to her*

“I am someone who believes in God and knows the value of giving,” she said.

She also said it coincided with her birth day and when she saw the woman’s plight on TV she decided there and then that she was a candidate for assistance.

“I will be turning 40 on June 22 and I have been helping disadvantaged people as part of my contribution to society that raised me,” she said.
She added,: “This forms party of my birth my celebrations. Giving has nothing to do with how much you have but must come from the heart,”
Her friends supported her initiative by donating groceries and blankets which were also given to Constantia.

Joining her during her moment of celebration are from left Midey Trading director Ayodele Odunayo Ogunrinde, her mother in law Ms Sabina Nkuna ,Midey CEO Ms Fhulufhelo Ogunrinde while friend and co sponsor and businesswoman Ms Konanani Makhuvha (right) looks on

Constantia’s step mother was also overjoyed.

“I am overjoyed and do not know how I would have built a house for her and the children,” she said, appreciating Midey Trading’s gesture. It was a good party in the family and village with people dancing to good vibes of Xitsonga traditional music.

For the time, they forgot about the Cyclone Eloise that wreaked havoc in Mozambique and parts of Malamulele.

The Cyclone would have taken not only Contantia’s life but also that of her two children.

But thanks God she is alive. And she has a new house.