By Anita Dangazele
- Residents carry dead bodies out of the settlement because ambulances can’t use bad roads.
- DA claims R20-million meant for McCarthy was diverted to Joe Slovo, where ANC supporters live.
People living in McCarthy informal settlement in Kariega are suffering because they don’t have proper water, toilets, roads or streetlights.
Even though they have asked the municipality for help many times, nothing has changed.
About 300 people live in the area, but they only have two taps for water. They also use portable toilets, with up to six families sharing one toilet, which is hardly ever cleaned.
The bad roads make it difficult for ambulances to reach sick people.
Residents say they once had to carry a dead body to the entrance of the settlement so that the funeral workers could fetch it.
“Roads are important because there have been times when ambulances couldn’t help our people, and we had to carry bodies ourselves. That’s not right,” said resident Aamina Rania.
People also feel unsafe because there are no police patrols in the area.
“Criminals don’t just rob us; they break into our homes. If we leave for too long, we come back to find our things stolen,” said Mongezi Pongwana.
Municipal spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya said McCarthy informal settlement would be included in the city’s 2025/26 budget.
The DA in Nelson Mandela Bay has accused the ANC-led government of ignoring McCarthy and spending money on its supporters in Joe Slovo instead.
The DA says R20-million that was meant to help McCarthy and other communities was taken away.
“Ward 48 lost R18.5-million. This includes McCarthy, Afghanistan and Allanridge, which were promised R12-million and new roads.
“But this money was given to the ANC and EFF supporters in Joe Slovo instead. Every community should be treated fairly and with respect,” said DA leader Rano Kayser.
Pictured above: The McCarthy informal settlement in Kariega, near Gqeberha.
Image source: DA NMB
