Brother and sister live in utter squalor
The two siblings, Mpho and Gugu, told the ZO that neither of them is employed and they beg for food from their neighbours
AFTER learning of the predicament of the Makhoba siblings from Macekane Reserve, City of uMhlathuze PR Councillor Zakhele Mthembu vowed to do what he could to help them.
He promised he would supply them with groceries every month until their situation improved.
‘When I heard about the brother and sister sharing a dilapidated one-room shack, I investigated.
What I discovered was terrible. I then brought the matter to the local Ward councillor’s attention,’ said Mthembu.
The two siblings, Mpho and Gugu, told the ZO that neither of them is employed and they beg for food from their neighbours.
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Mpho said he sometimes does domestic work to help them survive, but most of the time he struggles to get work and that is when they have to turn to their neighbours.
‘Our life is hell. Our shack is leaking and muddy inside and we suffer in cold and windy weather.
‘I applied for a RDP house years ago, but we are still waiting.’
Mpho said when it is time to bath, they take turns.
‘I am forced to wait outside until my sister, who has a three-month-old baby, is done.’
Gugu said four of her children have already been taken away by a social worker after they saw she had no proper home and couldn’t take care of them.
‘I miss them, but I can’t demand them back because I am unable to feed them,’ she said.
‘I can’t collect a state grant as I don’t have an ID book.’
Ward Councillor Sipho Ntombela said the municipality has profiled the family and is waiting for the Department of Human Settlements to build a RDP house for them.
‘I’m aware of their predicament and we are working on it,’ he said.
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