A cry for more RDP houses
Kathorus MAIL interviewed Kathorus community members who voted at different voting stations around Kathorus on May 8.
Most of those whom the people’s favourite paper spoke to said they needed houses where they could stay with their grandchildren or children. They also wished for the creation of more jobs.
One of them, Gogo Sombu Khumalo (65), from Katlehong,who cast her vote at Mogobong Primary School in Katlehong, said she wished that the government could take care of the needs of elderly people.
“I would feel great if our government could make sure that every elderly person in our communities has a house, and that the pension grant is increased.
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“It is our pension money that ensures there is food on the table in our households. We feed our children, our grandchildren and their children, with the little pension money we get,” said Khumalo.
She complained that old-age grant they receive was insufficient and did not meet their needs, so that after buying grocery, they were left with nothing to sustain for the rest of the month.
“We remain with no money for emergencies, especially if someone gets sick and need to see a doctor urgently. Sadly, our government still expect us to pay for electricity and expensive rates. I would like my vote to change that,” Khumalo said.
Khumbulani Hlabangani (70) voted at J Dumani Community Hall in Vosloorus. He said he wished the government could speed up the process of issuing title-deeds to pensioners.
“I wish the government could legislate that pensioners automatically qualify for RDP houses. There is no need for us to register to be on the waiting list. This is very unfair. I have been on the waiting list since 1994. Houses are being given to young people who do not need them. They rent them out, and go back to live in squatter camps while we have no houses under our names to stay with our grandchildren. I think the government should prioritise us more,” said Hlabangani.
Lerato Filda (45) who voted at Mogobong Primary School said she has been voting at the same station since 1994.
She hopes her vote will be able to bring about positive change.
“I hope my vote will help in terms of job creation and improvement of the country’s economy. Our children are sitting at home with university qualifications. I also wish President Cyril Ramaphosa can get rid of the corrupt officials who are stealing tax payer’s money, the money the government should be using to create jobs,” said Filda.
Matshidiso Khumalo (28), who also voted at Mogobong Primary School, said she believes her vote will make a difference.
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“Things are not going well in terms of employment. The government should focus its attention on creating jobs. I wish the government could place a lot of emphasis on creating jobs, for if we have more jobs opportunities, crime is likely to decrease. For as long as there is no employment, there is no way crime will stop,” said Matshidiso.
She was emphatic that if the government were to create more jobs, and get rid of corruption, the issue of crime would be solved.
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