It’s been seven years since a family from Kariega was moved into a temporary structure with the promise that the house they grew up in would be fixed.
Now, after all these years, even the temporary place they call home has become dilapidated.
The family of six — a pensioner, a disabled woman and four kids aged four and 15 — are dependent on the disability and pension grants and the grants of the three youngest children. The grants are often subjected to deductions from loan sharks, leaving little money for groceries.
Zukiswa Mthimkhulu, the mother to the three youngest children, told Scrolla.Africa that the municipality first intervened when their house was in a bad state with a leaking roof.
“They promised to fix our original home and we had to wait in this temporary shelter,” she said.
“Nothing has been done at the original house. It has also been vandalised.”
She said they haven’t had electricity for months due to cable theft and if it wasn’t for their neighbour, they wouldn’t even have water.
The stench of raw sewage can be smelled from the gate.
“The toilet has been blocked for years. When we need to relieve ourselves we go behind the broken toilet,” she said.
Zukiswa said her children often get sick and skin rashes are part of their everyday lives. She said the temporary shelter is very cold which often leads to her legs swelling up.
“My legs are hurting. My aunt is diabetic and old. We shouldn’t be living like this,” she said.
Ward 50 councillor in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, Nomxolisi Phezisa, said she had visited the family the previous day.
“I reported the issue to the municipality and have requested that their toilet be fixed within the week,” she said.
“I’ve spoken to social development to assess the situation. I will be speaking to human settlements soon about fixing the house.”
Zukiswa said it wasn’t the first visit they got from the councillor and the ward committee over the years and they’ve lost faith in the municipality.
Phezisa said they would be visiting the family again in the coming weeks, this time around with Christmas donations.
Pictured above: Zukiswa Mthimkhulu, her daughter and aunt Nontembiso Mthimkhulu
Image source: Anita Dangazele
