Promised RDP houses after six months: Nine years later they still waiting
“This is not a place I want my grandchildren to grow up in. I do not want to die here.”
Nine years ago, families moved from Ezinkomeni to nearby Unit P in Mdantsane, East London’s largest township. They did so on the understanding that RDP houses would be ready for them in six months. Today, they are still living in container homes.
Members of the 27 families say they are tired of living in the substandard container houses. Mbulelo Siqila says: “We see people moving into the houses that we were told would be ours, and no one has explained why this is happening and what plans they have for us … The last time we saw our councillor was 2015 when we protested, and she said it is out of her hands.”
He says that when he went to check the housing list, he was told the municipality was still looking for land on which to build the houses.
“How can they still be looking for land when they told us that we would be here [Unit P] for six months? They are making fools out of us,” he says.
Siqila’s neighbour, Mbuyiselo Tsomi, says that when he went to check on the status of his RDP house he was told he needed to reapply. “We were all moved with the same promise, but each time we go and check we are told different stories,” he says. “All of us here qualify [for houses] – we are either unemployed or [earn] less than R3,500 working at the factories.”
Residents showed GroundUp the poor condition of their temporary housing. The floors are damaged and residents use pieces of old wood for flooring. Old clothes are stuffed around windows, doors and under the roof to block the wind. The area has one tap and five toilets for the 27 families. There is no electricity. Their furniture is water damaged because rain gets into the homes.
“Snakes come into our houses,” said Nokuthula Petse. “This is not a place I want my grandchildren to grow up in. I do not want to die here.”
Her furniture like many of her neighbours is falling apart from the water that comes in during rainy days. She lifts up the old furniture material that she has used to cover her floor to show where, she claims, the snakes that almost bit her two year old grandchild came in.
Linda Matinise stays in one room with her husband and five children. At night she puts mattresses on the floor for her three children while she, her husband and two younger children share a double bed.
She is unemployed and her husband works part time at a factory. They survive on child grants.
GroundUp contacted ward councillor Zameka Kodwa-Jagula, who said she could not comment on the matter.
We also received no response to an enquiry sent on Monday to the spokesperson at Buffalo City Municipality, Samkelo Ngwenya.
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Letters
Dear Editor
Housing for all, free electricity, free clean running water for all. A 73 year old pensioner applied for an RDP house in 23 July 1999. On 7 February 2012, according to the document shown me, he visited the housing department and was registered on the demand database.
“There are many people who applied in 2004, but were allocated RDP houses. The ANC has failed us as pensioners. They only come to us with food parcels and blankets. Where am I going to put this food parcels and blankets without a roof on my head?" the pensioner said. "The African National Congress has forgotten me. I will be remembered only during election time.”
“Nomvula Mokonyane, when she the premier of Gauteng said, her government will priortise older people. Older people are used as voting cattle, and my right to housing is being violated by this ANC government. I am now old, a pensioner and I want Minister Sisulu to help me," he said. “She is my last hope and I do not want to be used as a voting cow, or maybe should I join the ANC in order for me to get the RDP house? I am not sure."
The ANC promises us housing, now they are focusing on one person “Zuma and his cattle kraal”, while I am still on the RDP housing waiting list for the past 16 years, shame, he said fuming. The promise made was not fullfiled by the ANC. Chapter 2, Bill of Rights, sub-section 27: Everyone has the right to access to adequate housing is been infringed by the department.
In 2012 the Khutsong Crisis Committee lodged a complaint with Advocate Thuli Madonsela during her Khutsong visit. She promised the community that her department will embark on a systematic investigation. Last year [2014 August 14] at Parktown, she emphazised that her office will continue to do the systematic investigation. But till now nothing and no action has been taken.
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