Shocking experience for Reggie at Plot 323
Nkabinde walked around the plot and visited the bereaved mother of the deceased child and the elders, who spoke about the challenges of residing on the plot.
A winter warming programme for the displaced Plot 323 dwellers in Wilgespruit turned into a despondent affair on 3 July.
The visit by the Treasurer General of the ANC Youth League, Reggie Nkabinde, might have left smiles on the faces of the plot dwellers after he provided them with clothes and blankets for the duration of the winter season, but his overall experience was underwhelming – he couldn’t believe how the families survived under such inhumane conditions.
The plot dwellers were evicted from a plot early last year by the Red Ants and were subsequently provided with tents by the Gauteng Provincial Government while alternative arrangements were being made by both provincial government and the City of Johannesburg. Months went by without a solution, During this time, a two-month-old baby was killed when the plot was hit by a heavy storm which blew the tents away.
Nkabinde walked around the plot and visited the bereaved mother of the deceased child and the elders, who spoke about challenges of residing on the plot.
After this woeful tour, he then addressed the community, making some commitment to alleviate the crisis. “I don’t understand how, under our democracy, we still have our people living under such conditions, more especially after the incident that happened here when the baby died,” he said.
The Northsider learnt that ANCYL branch had indeed opened a criminal case against City of Johannesburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba.
“I think it’s upon us as young people in this country to fight and make sure that the condition of our people changes. I’ve also made a commitment to ask the MEC for Housing to come out as soon as possible to do an intervention.
We also had to take it upon ourselves to come here and assist with blankets and buy jerseys for the children,” Nkabinde explained.
He also vowed to make regular visits and provide food and water for the needy. “One of the families here said they’ve had about four days without water, which is really painful,” he lamented.
He concluded by also urging everyone in business and government to come out and assist.Nkabinde has also appealed to formal residents to be patient with the situation as there’s been an outcry from rate-paying residents about the long stay of the tent dwellers. “I’d like to urge the neighbours to be patient. We can’t be more concerned about the market value of the houses when people are dying here,” he said.
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