In 80 years, she’s never lived in a warm house

Mkhize lives in a two-roomed mud house which has one single bed and a trolley in which she keeps her groceries and crockery. She shares her kitchen with her chickens which seems to enjoy the warmth from the fire place. There is one window.

She cannot remember when she started living in the area since she can’t read or write. Her previous mud house on the same spot was destroyed by rain a few years ago.

Mkhize used to work as a domestic worker and now survives on a R1,410 old age pension.

A trolley serves as a cupboard for groceries and crockery. Picture by Ntombi Ngubane.

“I have been living here for decades. I would love to own a house that belongs to me. I have never lived in a proper house in my life. I don’t know how it feels to be in a warm house without a leaking roof. I would love to own one. To me that is just a dream. The fact that I don’t go to bed hungry is what matters at the moment.”

“I would love to live and see the day when I will be handed a key to my house,” says Mkhize.

When GroundUp visited her she was surrounded by five neighbourhood children, all sitting around the fire near the chicken coop chatting and laughing. Her son was out.

“I have never tried to apply for a low cost house because I haven’t heard from anyone where I should go for my application,” she says.

She says she always votes in elections. “Every time there are elections. I do cast my vote because I believe it is something that I have to do. Other than that there is nothing I know about housing projects or any community projects in the area,” says Mkhize.

Despite her living conditions Mkhize has never been in hospital or a clinic. “I have never been sick or in hospital. I try and eat healthy so that I live longer.”

She has lost seven of her nine children, and one is missing. “I don’t know if he is still alive or he died.”

Some of her children are buried near her house. She has also lost a grandchild.

She lives with her disabled son, who, she says, “is able to protect me from any harm.” He earns money from piecemeal work for an employer in the area. She says as he is a smoker, she encourages him to work so that he can buy his own cigarettes.

The neighbour’s children cluster around the fireplace. From left to right sits Lungani Buthelezi, Betha Mkhize, Sbonelo Ngqulunga, Sbahle Ngubane, Anele Ngubane, and Mbekezeli Ngubane. Picture by Ntombi Ngubane.

“We may not have a proper house to live in but we have each other.”

“A proper house would be safe and protect us from the harsh weather conditions especially the cold in winter.”

Ward councilor Jay Singh said his field manager and the Msunduzi Municipality were working together to deal with cases like that of Mkhize. “I know our officials are working together to sort out the conditions of the people in that area,” he told GroundUp.