Residents of Debenek near Dimbaza outside King William’s Town have hired workers at their own expense to build toilets using material dumped by a contractor employed to do the job.
Ezihlahleni village chairman Mthuthuzeli Bopi said they had been asking for better toilets from Nkonkobe local municipality but had not expected them to just be dumped in their village without any word from the construction company.
“We were shocked. A decision had to be taken by residents that those who could afford to, should hire people to build them the toilets,” he said.
Bopi said many of the villagers survived off a R1350 per month social grant.
The cost of hiring someone to build the toilet is about R1100, which includes hiring a vehicle to collect the material.
“The Amathole district municipality or Nkonkobe should do something about this. We’ve been without proper sanitation for years now,” he said.
The ADM requested more time to respond to the Daily Dispatch’s questions while Nkonkobe mayor Anele Ntsangani said he was aware of the matter.
“This is not the only village that is having this problem, there are others as well. The ADM is doing water and sanitation for us and they were looking for funds to finish these projects.”
Villager Mbulelo Moko said the community members were not happy.
“Other villagers have benefited from this project. If you look at Mngqesha village, they have proper working toilets but here it’s a different case,” said Moko.
Mayeza Maseti, 76, said he did not have money to hire someone to erect the toilet for him. “I am going to use the bushes because I don’t have money. This is not good for old people like me.”
Maseti showed the Dispatch the material lying in front of his house.
“We need government to work for us if they want us to believe in them. We can’t for years stay without toilets and once they are here, they are failing to install them. This is not right,” he said.
Ntsangani said he would address the matter with ADM. “I know that ADM won’t leave these people like this, they will do their best in making sure that these toilets are built.” — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
No relief, villagers build toilets
Ezihlahleni village chairman Mthuthuzeli Bopi said they had been asking for better toilets from Nkonkobe local municipality but had not expected them to just be dumped in their village without any word from the construction company.
“We were shocked. A decision had to be taken by residents that those who could afford to, should hire people to build them the toilets,” he said.
Bopi said many of the villagers survived off a R1350 per month social grant.
The cost of hiring someone to build the toilet is about R1100, which includes hiring a vehicle to collect the material.
“The Amathole district municipality or Nkonkobe should do something about this. We’ve been without proper sanitation for years now,” he said.
The ADM requested more time to respond to the Daily Dispatch’s questions while Nkonkobe mayor Anele Ntsangani said he was aware of the matter.
“This is not the only village that is having this problem, there are others as well. The ADM is doing water and sanitation for us and they were looking for funds to finish these projects.”
Villager Mbulelo Moko said the community members were not happy.
“Other villagers have benefited from this project. If you look at Mngqesha village, they have proper working toilets but here it’s a different case,” said Moko.
Mayeza Maseti, 76, said he did not have money to hire someone to erect the toilet for him. “I am going to use the bushes because I don’t have money. This is not good for old people like me.”
Maseti showed the Dispatch the material lying in front of his house.
“We need government to work for us if they want us to believe in them. We can’t for years stay without toilets and once they are here, they are failing to install them. This is not right,” he said.
Ntsangani said he would address the matter with ADM. “I know that ADM won’t leave these people like this, they will do their best in making sure that these toilets are built.” — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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