A Christian’s walk among 3 000 destitute dump-dwellers
Help is on its way for the estimated 3 000 people living with pigs at dump-site.
It seems that help is on its way for the estimated 3 000 destitute residents living at the Randfontein dump-site.
A recent article in the Herald has prompted 32-year-old Marius Niemand, who is a member of the Western Front Kingdom Community, to reach out to this community.
He and another member, Wiekus de Beer, decided to visit the dump-site on Wednesday 22 June to do an assessment of the basic material needs of the population.
During their visit, it was established that approximately 3 000 people live in straitened circumstances. About 1 000 of these people go hungry every day. Their home is known as the Siyihlala Squatter Camp.
“The visit was an eye-opener to us – we are so used to complaining about our surroundings and not having enough finances for the so-called extras in life, while there are actually people living on our doorstep without running water, sewerage services or a proper roof over their heads,” Wiekus said.
Children are not going to school because of hunger; instead, they’re rummaging through the garbage, looking for something to eat. Mothers leave children in the care of an old woman who is struggling to cook a meal on an outside fire. The little ones try to find some shelter against the cold behind torn tarpaulins and perforated corrugated iron sheeting, without toys or blankets, and somehow remain friendly and smiling.
Against all expectations, Marius and Wiekus said they were received with friendliness and warm, sincere greetings.
“It broke our hearts to find a small neat church in the midst of all the rubble and dirt, with only three Bibles, worn out from use and sharing, bearing witness to the pleas of the people to an Almighty God for relief from absolutely ghastly living conditions.”
The Western Front Kingdom Community is now asking the communities of Randfontein and its surrounding areas for help, as the need is just too big for them to handle on their own. Marius said, “We’re asking for help, starting with the small children who go without medical attention because their parents just cannot afford to take them to the nearest government health institution. We need food, clothing and blanket donations from sponsors who are blessed to have enough to eat, to sleep under a blanket and to eat off a clean plate without the bitter after-taste of rotting rubbish lingering in their mouths.”
“Through community involvement,” said Wiekus, “these throw-away people of Randfontein can be uplifted enough to see their own worth and find a better place to live. I’ve lived in Randfontein for 52 years, and believe the town has enough friendly, good-hearted people to help with this initiative.”
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Also Read:
Residents’ life at dumpsite: God their only way out
Bekkersdal dump site a children’s playground
R’fontein Dumping site – Residents eat amongst the pigs to survive
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