For around 2000 households in Msintsi Village in Mdantsane, an average day starts with a walk to one of the village’s few communal taps to fetch water.
After this, many residents have to light a fire to boil water to wash and cook. A lucky few own gas or paraffin stoves.
The village, established 12 years ago, has no running water, electricity or roads.
Headman Dumisani Metele said what had made the situation more painful were electricity poles which ran through the village – but which only electrified surrounding areas.
Metele said Qonqweni, Nxamkwane, Mbekweni, Unit P and Khayelitsha were all electrified.
“Even Unit P has electricity, although the area was established long after we arrived here,” he said.
“We have done everything in our power to get our area sorted out but all we have heard are empty promises. People are getting angrier and angrier at this situation.”
Metele said a request for a proper road from the municipality had seen the rough gravel road graded, although it was only made wide enough for one car.
A request for toilets saw around 800 pit latrines provided, with contractors not returning since.
“I had also asked for RDP houses for the very poor and the elderly. “Twenty-two houses were approved and contractors arrived last year. All they did was to build basic foundations but they never returned,” he said.
One of the headman’s council members, Xola Dyani, said: “Not only are there no lights in our homes but there are no street lights either so criminals can prey on us easily.
“We had also put in an application for a clinic because all we have is a mobile clinic which only comes around once a month, if at all.
“Some months we get reports that it’s broken down, so those who can't afford taxi fare to another clinic stay sick until its fixed.”
Buffalo City Metro spokesman Thandy Matebese said the basic level of water service in villages or informal settlements were communal stand pipes or Jojo tanks.
“The municipality has been extending the water reticulation in this area over the years but the village continues expanding every year. As a result there is a small section of the village which is currently supplied with Jojo tanks,” he said. “Extension of water supply to the new area will be included in the budget for the next financial year ”.
Questions around the electricity supply and roads had not been answered at the time of writing. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za
Village that’s been forgotten
After this, many residents have to light a fire to boil water to wash and cook. A lucky few own gas or paraffin stoves.
The village, established 12 years ago, has no running water, electricity or roads.
Headman Dumisani Metele said what had made the situation more painful were electricity poles which ran through the village – but which only electrified surrounding areas.
Metele said Qonqweni, Nxamkwane, Mbekweni, Unit P and Khayelitsha were all electrified.
“Even Unit P has electricity, although the area was established long after we arrived here,” he said.
“We have done everything in our power to get our area sorted out but all we have heard are empty promises. People are getting angrier and angrier at this situation.”
Metele said a request for a proper road from the municipality had seen the rough gravel road graded, although it was only made wide enough for one car.
A request for toilets saw around 800 pit latrines provided, with contractors not returning since.
“I had also asked for RDP houses for the very poor and the elderly. “Twenty-two houses were approved and contractors arrived last year. All they did was to build basic foundations but they never returned,” he said.
One of the headman’s council members, Xola Dyani, said: “Not only are there no lights in our homes but there are no street lights either so criminals can prey on us easily.
“We had also put in an application for a clinic because all we have is a mobile clinic which only comes around once a month, if at all.
“Some months we get reports that it’s broken down, so those who can't afford taxi fare to another clinic stay sick until its fixed.”
Buffalo City Metro spokesman Thandy Matebese said the basic level of water service in villages or informal settlements were communal stand pipes or Jojo tanks.
“The municipality has been extending the water reticulation in this area over the years but the village continues expanding every year. As a result there is a small section of the village which is currently supplied with Jojo tanks,” he said. “Extension of water supply to the new area will be included in the budget for the next financial year ”.
Questions around the electricity supply and roads had not been answered at the time of writing. — zisandan@dispatch.co.za
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