The Langa family’s RDP house approved after 23 years

The City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) confirmed that Delisile Zanele Langa’s RDP house has been approved.

Langa applied for her RDP house in 1998, and since then her situation worsened when she got sick. The need for a house became more urgent as she is unable to walk and she cannot use her wheelchair where she currently resides due to lack of space.

The family of five including Langa, her four girls aged 18, 16, 13 and 11 and her grandchild share a two-room at Khuthuza Hostel, Thokoza.

After 23 years of living in unbearable conditions at a hostel in Thokoza, the Langa family are now looking forward to a fresh start at their new home.

According to the spokesperson of the CoE Zweli Dlamini, Langa’s house is approved and is located in Extension 22, Tsakane project.

He said she will be moved as soon as there are available houses because she is approved.

In his response to the family’s claims about their house being occupied by other people, Dlamini said the City is not aware, however, the matter will be investigated by the Human Settlements Department.

Since the City was not aware of her problem, nothing was done to help her, he added.

“The City cannot comment on the extent of Langa’s disability, however, the City will send a delegation to assess the situation of the family and determine what can be the best possible intervention,” said Dlamini.

Background

Langa applied for her RDP house twice, in 1998 and 2004 and has been on the waiting list for 23 years.

She said at the time it was easy for her to do follow-ups because she could still walk independently.

Her situation has worsened after she encountered health challenges.

According to her, the doctor told her that she has blood clots on her back that was affecting her spinal cord.
She broke her leg while trying to get on her bed before completely losing her ability to walk.

Langa was fortunate enough to receive a wheelchair donation but she is unable to use it in the house as it does not fit on the doors.

At the moment she crawls with her hands to navigate around the two rooms, skipping electrical wires while enduring severe pain on her broken right leg.

“When I want to move around the house I use my hands to crawl, I rely on my children to assist me but because of the pain. I prefer sitting in the same position the whole day.

“I feel like I have become a burden to my children because they have to spend time ensuring that I have everything I would need even before going to school,” said Langa.

She had challenges when she had to use the toilet which is a walking distance from the house. At the moment she uses an old toilet without running water just next door to her house.

“I could not walk to the toilet anymore because walking becomes too painful, I take time to get there, I would usually take breaks while walking,” she said.

The toilets she is currently using were no longer operating, but she requested permission from the hostel Indunas to use them as she struggled to get to the operating toilets within the hostel.

“We use the toilet next door, my children have to go get water every day, we use a 25-litre water bucket to flush the toilets,” said Langa.

This has led the oldest daughter to drop out of school to take care of her.

As a result of her condition, she is often admitted to the hospital for days leaving her girl children alone at the hostel.

Her oldest daughter explained that they fear for their lives and falling victim to sexual violation. She said criminals attempted to break in three times while her mother was admitted to the hospital.

Recent developments

The family does not own the two-room hostel that they currently live in. During December last year, the owner returned and requested to have the two-room back. This has put more pressure on the family as they are expected to move out even though they cannot afford to pay rent because they rely on social grants.

The family need a temporary place to stay while waiting to be placed at their new home.

To assist the family contact Langa on 078 385 2491.

WATCH: Struggling family needs new home after years of waiting