OMPHITLHETSE MOOKI
A rotten pigsty! That’s how people of Alexandra’s Stjwetla section described their neighbourhood yesterday during an electioneering campaign led by ANC Youth League president Julius Malema.
Uninhabitable toilets, rats, flooding and shacks without electricity are some of the living conditions residents of the settlement, situated on the banks of the Jukskei River, have to contend with.
“This place is like a pigsty! You’d swear pigs live here. When you go away you don’t relax because you might just find your belongings soaked in water. My suits are always soaked,” said Matongwa Rapatsa, to a chorus of voices agreeing with him.
Communal toilets were also a major concern, with some residents saying they travelled to nearby built-up sections, asking to use those toilets, out of fear of contracting diseases from using their own filthy toilets.
“It’s really embarrassing to go ask to use other people’s toilets. It’s like we are still using the bucket system, because at night we use buckets because you never know what might creep out from the (toilet) bowl,” said 69-year-old Pinkie Kgopang.
Although she is not a Stjwetla resident, Kgopang’s concerns are the same. She stays in a yard in Alex’s 18th Avenue with 13 other people, under horrible conditions, she says.
“Eight families were moved to the new houses, but we’re still waiting. They gave us house numbers, but nothing is happening. We’re now expected to vote for the same people who take us for granted,” she said.
The people at the rally were asked publicly to voice their grievances before Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale, Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane and Malema.
Most complained about corruption, saying houses allocated to them had been sold to other people.
“I have an SMS from Eskom regarding electricity at my house. That can only mean somebody else occupies my house,” the man said, prompting Malema to ask for his details so that his case could be investigated.
“We’ve been promised better lives since 1994 and our ‘better’ lives are to live like pigs,” a resident chirped in.
Mokonyane said it was impossible for the government to construct permanent toilets and electrify the area as it was an informal settlement whose residents would soon be relocated to a decent area.
“We’re going to buy not less than 12 hectares of land. We’ll buy land in Lombardy East and Linbro Park. We want to keep you close to work opportunities,” she said.
Sexwale said R90 million would be invested in the area.
Malema criticised “landowners” who he said were selling “stolen land” to its rightful owners, reiterating comments he made in Kimberley at the weekend.
He then started singing the remixed version of Dubul’ Ibhunu. “Shoot to kill, kiss the boer… the farmer,” he chanted.