APPROXIMATELY 90 people, comprised of both adults and children, are still living at the Greenwood Park Community Hall since the April flood.
Ward 34 Councillor Bobby Maharajh, said the number of people has declined over the weeks as some have gone to live with family and others have rebuilt their shacks in the informal settlements – although they were advised not to.
“The people here are from Briardene, Siyathuthuka and Joanna Road informal settlements,” said Maharajh.
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“It’s not ideal or a permanent solution to have these families living in the hall, but for now, they have no choice as the City is trying to source land for these families to rebuild. We don’t know when land will become available,” he said.
Maharajh added that some had gone back and built in the informal settlement despite being advised not to.
“These areas, especially where the Joanna Road and Siyathuthuka settlements are situated, are not stable. The land is very steep. Shacks should not have been built there in the first place,” he said.
Families living at the hall have received aid in the form of food, clothing, nappies, formula and more to keep them going.
When the Northglen News arrived at the hall on Friday, children between the ages of about one and five were seen playing outside and running through the hall.
Clothing was hung out along the steel fencing that borders the property of the hall.
Women were outside washing pots, and some were in the kitchen preparing meals.
In the hall itself, mattresses lay on the floor and on the stage, together with TV sets and other belongings.
This is where the women and children sleep.
Upstairs, in a similar set-up, is where the men lie down to rest every night.
“The hall is located at the corner of Buxton and Chris Hani roads which is a business hub. It’s not ideal to have people living here and washing hung out, but what choice do they have?” asked Maharajh.
One of the people who live at The Greenwood Park Community Hall is Nomthandazo Dludla from Siyathuthuka Informal Settlement.
She is an unemployed mother of two who is studying tourism management through Unisa via a bursary.
Her husband is also unemployed.
“I will never forget the weekend those heavy rains came. I was petrified. I didn’t sleep. I had my one-year-old baby on my back the whole time. I was afraid that if I put him down, he would get washed away. My five-year-old daughter was also close to me,” she said.
“I watched the shacks come down like an avalanche and get washed away. Siyathuthuka is like a mountain and very steep,” she said.
Dludla lost her documents, clothes, furniture, laptop and cellphone, but is grateful that her family is safe.
Having no laptop means she can’t access her study material and has no money to visit an internet cafe, but she still has her Sim card, so she makes a plan and borrows a phone to try to keep updated with her studies.
“I have a hawker’s licence. I used to sell traditional clothing and accessories at the Durban Station, but that area was also damaged during the flood. I want to get back on my feet and revive my business again. I’m trying but it’s difficult,” she said.
She said she, like some of the other people at the hall, rely entirely on aid to feed their families.
“I know this is not permanent, and I would like to rebuild my home again, but we do feel safer here. This building is more stable. The children can play outside because it is safer. I am happy here, but I also want to go back home and back to my life,” she said.
She said she was thankful to Maharajh, community leaders, and community members who donated items and continue to do so.
“They are a blessing to us, and we appreciate it,” she said.
