Cries of poverty fall on deaf ears
Residents of the Madelakufa Informal Settlement in Tembisa are living in abject poverty and it would appear that no one cares about their plight.
Even though President Jacob Zuma once visited the area and promised improvements, nothing has changed. Promises were also made to move residents to Strydom Land, but again, nothing ever happened.
More than 500 people still share the same mobile toilets, and children play next to a broken sewage pipe, where they are at risk of being infected by germs.
Most residents wanted to talk on condition of anonymity, but Khumbudzo Mabukile says he has nothing to fear, as his life is already in danger as he smells human waste 24 hours a day in the area.
“Even when you cook, you smell human waste everywhere. To be poor is a curse in this country and I pray that God can come down and rescue us from this situation. This no longer needs councillors, but the mighty Lord. Enough is enough,” he said.
Just a stones throw away from Madelakufa is the leafy suburb of Elidinga, where those who can afford bonds live. There is a world of difference between the two places. Some Elidinga residents do not even want to talk about those who live at Madelafufa.
One resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “Most of the people staying there are not working. The government has neglected them, but you will see cars there when they start campaigning for elections,” she said.
Efforts to contact the metro about the situation were unsuccessfuland no comment was received at the time of going to press.
