Residents of Walter Sisulu Township, a sprawling RDP settlement in Elliotdale, are afraid their homes will fall down on their heads as they sleep.They accuse government of failing to build them better RDP homes, despite several promises over the years.
The township, which is situated just behind the town, was built in the early 2000s.
Several residents told the Daily Dispatch yesterday that they dreaded falling asleep when there were strong winds, as their roofs shook.
Owners have resorted to putting bricks and rocks on top of their roofs to keep them from being blown away.
“I don’t sleep because I am scared the house might collapse and kill me,” said Nomanesi Joni, a community leader whose roof was blown away by gale-force winds in 2008.
She had to use her own money to buy new zinc sheets for her roof.
“It’s the same situation when it rains because the roofs leak.
“We have to use buckets so it doesn’t damage our .
Unemployed Joni, 45, has had to throw away many belongings that have been ruined due to the leaks.
Community leader Sizwe Ntsezo said they had been promised new and much-improved RDP houses by authorities as far back as 2010.
“We are not fighting with government but we have endured misery for far too long,” he added.
Residents confirmed that several houses in the area had “blown away” many times over the years.
Tholakele Goyi, a married mother of one, said her husband had developed chest complications from sleeping in a damp house.
Ntsezo said many people had died while waiting for decent RDP homes from the government.
Attempts to get comment from Mbashe municipal authorities were unsuccessful at the time of going to print.
But provincial human settlements spokesman Lwandile Sicwetsha said it was the prerogative of local municipalities to alert his department of any RDP house that needs rectification.
Sicwetsha said RDP houses that were not occupied by their original owners were not eligible for the rectification programme. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
Terrified homes will collapse
They accuse government of failing to build them better RDP homes, despite several promises over the years.
The township, which is situated just behind the town, was built in the early 2000s.
Several residents told the Daily Dispatch yesterday that they dreaded falling asleep when there were strong winds, as their roofs shook.
Owners have resorted to putting bricks and rocks on top of their roofs to keep them from being blown away.
“I don’t sleep because I am scared the house might collapse and kill me,” said Nomanesi Joni, a community leader whose roof was blown away by gale-force winds in 2008.
She had to use her own money to buy new zinc sheets for her roof.
“It’s the same situation when it rains because the roofs leak.
“We have to use buckets so it doesn’t damage our .
Unemployed Joni, 45, has had to throw away many belongings that have been ruined due to the leaks.
Community leader Sizwe Ntsezo said they had been promised new and much-improved RDP houses by authorities as far back as 2010.
“We are not fighting with government but we have endured misery for far too long,” he added.
Residents confirmed that several houses in the area had “blown away” many times over the years.
Tholakele Goyi, a married mother of one, said her husband had developed chest complications from sleeping in a damp house.
Ntsezo said many people had died while waiting for decent RDP homes from the government.
Attempts to get comment from Mbashe municipal authorities were unsuccessful at the time of going to print.
But provincial human settlements spokesman Lwandile Sicwetsha said it was the prerogative of local municipalities to alert his department of any RDP house that needs rectification.
Sicwetsha said RDP houses that were not occupied by their original owners were not eligible for the rectification programme. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za
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