Burnt house residents feel neglected
Chris Stemela, a resident at the house, said at the moment no one owns this house and anyone who wants to stay here comes as they wish.
THE people who live in a burnt house in Thulisa Park on the corner of Austen and Purcell streets acknowledges that it is not their house, however, they are pleading for basics like water, IDs, birth certificates and electricity.
This house belongs to a Chinese woman, as confirmed by Ward 57 Clr Faeeza Chame, and it was burnt down on a suspected arson attack on October 20 last year. Since then about 40 people, including children, have lived there.
Chris Stemela, a resident at the house, said at the moment no one owns this house and anyone who wants to stay here comes as they wish.
“The owner used this house as business premises before she abruptly left. Now we see people come here and want to buy this house. And what about us? Where are we going to live?
“We have no water and sanitation, the people’s IDs and birth certificate burned on that day and some people who have a chronic disease cannot go to the clinic for their medication because they do not have their clinic cards, they lost them in the fire. We are hungry, we cannot find jobs as we do not have IDs. Who can help us? We are on our own here,” he said.
Another resident, James Khumalo, said he is disappointed because local Clr Faeeza Chame seems not to care. Although she helped them when there was a fire, James feels the councillor is now neglecting them.
“We always see her in the COURIER, taking photographs helping others but not us. She helped the residents of Springbok informal settlement who are also in a similar situation as us. What barred her from helping us? They only think about us when there are elections, after that we are on our own. Pick n Pay has been of great help to us when we want to relieve ourselves but they only open at 9am, what about at night? We are praying for any good Samaritan to come to our rescue,” explained James.
Phumla Higa, also a resident, said criminal activities and drugs abuse occur at this house, but because the house is not fenced, it is a free entrance for all.
“Our hands are tied because this is not our house, we are just squatting here and you cannot tell someone not to come in. Most of us are not working but I can guarantee you that we are not criminals, we don’t steal form our neighbours,” she said.
Clr Faeeza Chame response:
First of all, this house is a private property. How can I install water and electricity in someone’s house? As a councilor I don’t mind helping them with IDs and certificates but other than that my hands are tied.
I can say there are people who showed interest in buying the house. I have learnt that the owner wants R800 000, which is too much for a burnt house.
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