Nobbler Velebhayi showed Premier Masualle a letter confirming she and her siblings should have moved to house 5481 in Reeston.
But 10 years on, they have yet to move from their two-roomed shack at Duncan Village’s C-Section.
“For how long do we have to stay in these shacks, when records show that the municipality built houses for us,” said Velebhayi, crying.
Nobathembu Mcilongo expressed similar sentiments about the state of her home in C-Section where she has lived in a shack for 60 years. She said streets were filthy.
“We are even unable to buy groceries as rats feast on them overnight.
“We are the same people who still have bruises after being shot at with rubber bullets under white rule, but we still stay in the same appalling conditions so many years on into this democracy.
“It’s a painful experience. My eight-year-old son asks me all the time why I continue to go to ANC meetings when our conditions remain the same.”
Masualle, Health MEC Phumza Dyantyi and Buffalo City mayor Alfred Mtsi were visiting Duncan Village as part of the executive council’s outreach programme.
ANC veteran Lerona Mekeni, who qualified to be moved to a new house in Reeston in 2010, said the municipality had held no official or councillor accountable for illegal occupation of RDP houses meant for residents of C and D sections.
“This is the sixth mayor while we remain in porous houses. That is, since 1963. I am very angry. Municipal officials give services to their relatives,’’ said Mekeni.
“Premier, we’re not going to allow a situation where leaders who stay in suburbs such as Bonnie Doon talk on our behalf.”
Residents expressed anger over failure to collect garbage, poor service at Ndende clinic and failure to access electricity for those living in shacks. Some threatened to continue connecting electricity illegally.
“Until you build proper houses and we have our own electricity boxes, we will continue to connect illegally,” said another resident.
Masualle said: “It can’t be right to expect us to say yes when adults say here it is correct to connect electricity illegally. Such connections kill innocent children.”
Acting housing head Thabo Matiwane said more than 2000 residents of sections C and D qualified to get RDP houses in Reeston’s Phase 2 and 3.
Premier’s tearful visit
But 10 years on, they have yet to move from their two-roomed shack at Duncan Village’s C-Section.
“For how long do we have to stay in these shacks, when records show that the municipality built houses for us,” said Velebhayi, crying.
Nobathembu Mcilongo expressed similar sentiments about the state of her home in C-Section where she has lived in a shack for 60 years. She said streets were filthy.
“We are even unable to buy groceries as rats feast on them overnight.
“We are the same people who still have bruises after being shot at with rubber bullets under white rule, but we still stay in the same appalling conditions so many years on into this democracy.
“It’s a painful experience. My eight-year-old son asks me all the time why I continue to go to ANC meetings when our conditions remain the same.”
Masualle, Health MEC Phumza Dyantyi and Buffalo City mayor Alfred Mtsi were visiting Duncan Village as part of the executive council’s outreach programme.
ANC veteran Lerona Mekeni, who qualified to be moved to a new house in Reeston in 2010, said the municipality had held no official or councillor accountable for illegal occupation of RDP houses meant for residents of C and D sections.
“This is the sixth mayor while we remain in porous houses. That is, since 1963. I am very angry. Municipal officials give services to their relatives,’’ said Mekeni.
“Premier, we’re not going to allow a situation where leaders who stay in suburbs such as Bonnie Doon talk on our behalf.”
Residents expressed anger over failure to collect garbage, poor service at Ndende clinic and failure to access electricity for those living in shacks. Some threatened to continue connecting electricity illegally.
“Until you build proper houses and we have our own electricity boxes, we will continue to connect illegally,” said another resident.
Masualle said: “It can’t be right to expect us to say yes when adults say here it is correct to connect electricity illegally. Such connections kill innocent children.”
Acting housing head Thabo Matiwane said more than 2000 residents of sections C and D qualified to get RDP houses in Reeston’s Phase 2 and 3.
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