Residents fed up with appalling living conditions

RESIDENTS who vowed not to cast their votes in the next elections until their grievances are met, marched to the Department of Housing in New Germany on Monday to demand better houses.

The residents from KwaDabeka Lindela Transit Camp (Ward 19) said they were placed there temporarily while waiting patiently for years for the government to build them proper houses.

Speaking on behalf of the residents, Mzwandile Ngcongo said the houses they are currently living in are built with asbestos and nine years down the line many residents are suffering from Tuberculosis (TB) and others have since passed away.

“We have no privacy here, you can hear what is happening in your neighbour’s house. We have children who are picking up bad habits as a result. Learners have a hard time studying for their exams because of the noise,” he said.

The residents said there are houses that have been built in Cornubia in the Durban North area where some of the residents can be moved as they are currently unoccupied.

“We understand that there are many people who are looking for houses as there are many Lindela transit camps around Durban. There is a big open space next to where we reside where they can build us houses,” said Ngcongo.

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Besides the housing issue, residents also complained about the crime in the area. “You cannot even use the toilet freely, especially at night, when mostly women are targeted and they get raped” said another resident, Sipho Mkhize.

“The conditions that we live in are unspeakable, no one deserves to live like this. People are forever suffering from diarrhea and we share our house with big rats.

“When it rains, water enters our houses, in winter we freeze because of the cold and when it’s hot, we boil in these houses.

“It is such a shame that councillors and officials only visit our areas when they are campaigning for elections and that is the last we hear from them. We have sent a letter to the councillor, Bheki Mvubu, and we did not get any response.

“This is a peaceful march and we hope that someone could address our grievances soon,” said Mkhize.

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The memorandum was received by Sikhumbuzo Ndaba from the office of the Mayor. He told the protesters that he will forward it to the relevant department and will engage with the community leader.

The residents gave him seven days to respond.

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