Orphans appeal for an RDP house
The family of the late Mr James Shabangu, from Winnie Mandela Informal Settlement, is appealing to the local government to help allocate them their father's RDP house.
It is believed Mr Shabangu was allocated a house in Essellen Park, which was later transferred to Mr Jackson Mthethwa.
Mr Shabangu’s children share one shack for a family of five, in Winnie Mandela.
Ms Talita Shabangu, who is 22, said they are scared every time it rains.
“We are scared because of floods. Our shack cannot protect us properly when it rains. We also living in the dark because we have no electricity, not to mention a proper toilet. We sometimes rely on our neighbours’ toilets or uses the bushes,” she said.
The young Ms Shabangu added that they lost their parents at a young age.
“Sometimes I wish my parents were still alive so that they could help us. We are unable to study during the night due to the darkness. We are scared to study using candles at night because we have seen so many shacks burn down because of candles,” she added.
Ms Shabangu further said she feels hopeless, especially after seeing a document that indicated her father’s RDP house was transferred to another person.
“It shows we will never get a decent home, not until we grow up and qualify for an RDP house. Life in a squatter camp is threatening and hard because we do not get opportunities, such as being able to watch television or living a decent life like other people,” she said.
She said the heavy rains puts pressure on them and raises the fear of previous years’ floods.
