Residents from a forgotten East London community in Dorchester Heights did not vote in Wednesday’s local government elections saying it would have counted for nothing.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch on Wednesday as millions of people from around the country took to polling stations to make their mark, residents from the Dorchester Heights informal settlement said they had decided not to go to the polls because they had not received any services from Buffalo City Metro or the Eastern Cape government.
Nokuzola Masindwa, 64, a blind woman living in a makeshift shack, said it felt as if life had come to a standstill for herself and her neighbours.
Her shack, which is covered in plastic, is full of holes and leaks whenever it rains.
Masindwa, who cannot move without assistance, said: “It’s clear that our vote in the last 22 years has not counted for anything.
“Instead, we have been voting to uplift other people. When we ask for simple things like water and sanitation, we get nothing,” she said.
The settlement, which is home to less than 100 people, is situated between the upmarket Hemingways mall and Dorchester Heights residential area. It has no running water, no toilets and there are no signs of any future development.
Residents said they were forced to get water from Hemingways late at night or early in morning and they even used the mall’s ablution facilities.
Masindwa said: “I see no reason to vote if we are ignored, although many of these leaders know about our plight through the media.”
Her partner, Nhose January, said life was difficult for them.
“I can’t go out to look for jobs because I have to care for her. We would have loved to have our voices heard through our votes but that never happened. We need help, we need someone who will come and hear us. We are made foreigners in our own land – we have got nothing,” said January.
In May 2014, senior politicians including former local government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane and former Buffalo City Metro mayor Zukiswa Ncitha visited the shack community and promised residents they would get temporary shelters and running water.
A water tank was delivered to the community but more than two years later it still stands empty as it was never connected to a supply.
Resident Sibuyiselo Ndingaye, who moved to the settlement in 2009, said he had been unable to find anywhere else to live. “These people that left the tank told us that we need to buy water. Where is the money?” he asked.
“We are also told that our neighbours here don’t want us because we will steal from them. This is our land and we will occupy it as long as we don’t have a place to stay,” he vowed.
Pamela Mdike, who has been living in the settlement since the 90s, said: “If this government can’t help us, they need to tell us. Our leaders have been to their offices a number of times but there’s no response.”
Contacted for comment yesterday, former ward councillor for the area, Makhaya Bopi, said he would visit the community to see how he could assist with their complaints. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
‘Neglected’ EL shack dwellers shun elections
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch on Wednesday as millions of people from around the country took to polling stations to make their mark, residents from the Dorchester Heights informal settlement said they had decided not to go to the polls because they had not received any services from Buffalo City Metro or the Eastern Cape government.
Nokuzola Masindwa, 64, a blind woman living in a makeshift shack, said it felt as if life had come to a standstill for herself and her neighbours.
Her shack, which is covered in plastic, is full of holes and leaks whenever it rains.
Masindwa, who cannot move without assistance, said: “It’s clear that our vote in the last 22 years has not counted for anything.
“Instead, we have been voting to uplift other people. When we ask for simple things like water and sanitation, we get nothing,” she said.
The settlement, which is home to less than 100 people, is situated between the upmarket Hemingways mall and Dorchester Heights residential area. It has no running water, no toilets and there are no signs of any future development.
Residents said they were forced to get water from Hemingways late at night or early in morning and they even used the mall’s ablution facilities.
Masindwa said: “I see no reason to vote if we are ignored, although many of these leaders know about our plight through the media.”
Her partner, Nhose January, said life was difficult for them.
“I can’t go out to look for jobs because I have to care for her. We would have loved to have our voices heard through our votes but that never happened. We need help, we need someone who will come and hear us. We are made foreigners in our own land – we have got nothing,” said January.
In May 2014, senior politicians including former local government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane and former Buffalo City Metro mayor Zukiswa Ncitha visited the shack community and promised residents they would get temporary shelters and running water.
A water tank was delivered to the community but more than two years later it still stands empty as it was never connected to a supply.
Resident Sibuyiselo Ndingaye, who moved to the settlement in 2009, said he had been unable to find anywhere else to live. “These people that left the tank told us that we need to buy water. Where is the money?” he asked.
“We are also told that our neighbours here don’t want us because we will steal from them. This is our land and we will occupy it as long as we don’t have a place to stay,” he vowed.
Pamela Mdike, who has been living in the settlement since the 90s, said: “If this government can’t help us, they need to tell us. Our leaders have been to their offices a number of times but there’s no response.”
Contacted for comment yesterday, former ward councillor for the area, Makhaya Bopi, said he would visit the community to see how he could assist with their complaints. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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