Hump-Free the hen gives uMdloti residents hope

WHEN you think of symbols of hope and survival, a chicken doesn’t always spring to mind, however, for uMdloti residents, this is where they beg to differ.

“In a short space of time, the tale of Hump-Free the hen has captured the imagination of the seaside village where she has become a mascot for resilience,” explained Tracey Simkiss, a member of the Umdloti Conservancy.

The residents have even donated a little home for the brave chicken with a simple hand-painted sign reading ‘House of Hump-Free’.

“We have no idea where she came from,” said Simkiss. “She just appeared one day at the speed humps on the road going in and out of the village, a couple of months before the floods. She actually got her name because she lives near the speed humps into the village and is free.

“uMdloti has been through a really tough time, especially after the recent floods. Hump-Free has survived both floods and has become a mascot of hope and resilience to the residents. One of my favourite posts I’ve seen on our WhatsApp group is, ‘that chicken gives me an unreasonable amount of joy’. That pretty much sums up her effect on people. She survived another day, and so can we. She has attitude, resilience and fortitude,” she said.

When she’s not near her home, the plucky hen is seen crossing from one side of the main road to another.

“She often forages in the grass and bushes on either side of the speed humps. When crossing from one side to the other, cars and trucks stop and patiently wait for her.”

Adding to her legend is a fabric painting of a chicken found on the beach after the first floods.

“After the first flood, I was walking on the beach, and among all the litter, I saw a piece of fabric wrapped around some pieces of wood. The wood had long, rusty nails sticking out of it. I thought I had better pick it up before someone stood on the nails. When I unraveled the fabric, it turned out to be a fabric painting of a chicken. What are the odds?

“It had survived a trip down the river and been battered against the rocks but was still OK. The wooden frame was damaged, but the chicken painting was still in good condition. I took it as a sign that uMdloti, too, would survive and get through the difficult times like Hump-Free and the painting,” she said.