Residents of Mayville, Durban, who say they have been waiting for their grandmothers for 19 years, are burning and threatening not to go to the polling stations on November 4.
People living in DD Transit Cap, Mayiville say they have not done anything to talk to the Department of Human Settlements in KwaZulu-Natal and the Municipality of Thekwini to remind them of their situation but it is like pouring water off a duck’s back.
They stop at the point that they know very well that they are stealing something that they will never get even if they want to.
Tell them It is a country that they have been waiting for since 2006. They all sounded very disgusted and it sounded like they wanted answers from the authorities about this. They revealed that there are approximately 500 people living in this area.
Ms. Nonhle Makhathini said that it is completely unbelievable that there are people who can wait for so many years. He said they were promised that it was a temporary thing, they would be moved to better places.
”I don’t know what is being done to us, hey, we have been played with. But there is nothing we will do with an eye for an eye as it is played that we will not go to vote. After all, that’s the only way we can express our anger,” he said.
He complained that the society for those waiting is not good at all. He said the toilets are very old and the sewage seems to come from far away and its smell is unbearable.
“Just tell me who can stand to live in such a place?” he asked in disgust.
Mr. Nkosikhona Mdluli said that the condition of this area is so bad that it even makes them aware at night. He complained about the buildings and said that it was not even a day ago that the issue of them falling on them was discussed.
“You chose an old one with holes in the house. When we sleep, we open one eye because water enters the house when it rains. When we hear rain, we wake up and stand on our feet. The big question is, what kind of life is that?” she said.
He also said that they did not do anything to express their concern but nothing to get answers from the Department of Human Settlements and the Municipality of Etheku. He went on to say that they only have one thing left, and that’s exactly what they should do at the polling stations on the big day.
“That, we believe, will send a clear and weighty enough message to those in charge,” said Mdluli.
Mrs. Nomzamo Khawula said that her child, who came to this place when she was young, has even finished matric, still waiting to be taken to “Khenana”. This alone, he said, makes it clear that they were being played with.
“Is there anyone who can wait 19 years? This is really strange, I don’t know anything like this,” he explained.
Mr. Zakhele Mnguni said that they have lost power now because of their neglect. He said that his child, who was born in this place, has grown up and is growing up in this misery.
“You can see that it means that we are placed in this place forever, it cannot be said that one day we will be removed. They knew very well that they put us here forever,” he said.
He said that the saddest thing of all is that others who were placed with them have passed away waiting for the cloudless darkness.
They complained that people living with disabilities live in this area and say that it is difficult for them to walk because of the location.
They also said that they are afraid that they will get diseases because of the pollution of this place.
The spokesperson for the Department of Human Settlements in KwaZulu-Natal, Mr. Ndabe Sibiya, said that there is work being done involving the Municipality of Thekwini and the Department of Human Settlements nationally.
He said that Minister Siboniso Duma is hopeful that since the budget was presented yesterday, money will be available so that all those who are waiting can benefit.
He said Duma emphasizes that it is not an acceptable life for people to live in poor places.
“That is why he is in contact with the national government to ensure that efforts are made to get money for people to build houses,” he said.
