Dignity has been restored to gogo Christina Zama’s Duduza home which was surrounded by heaps of clutter, various breeds of rodents and an awful smell of filth.
Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality officials moved into the Zama family home on Wednesday morning, fully geared up to do away with the rubbish scattered all over the yard.
Disappointment and hurt was written on Zama’s face as she watched officials removing what used to be her source of income. Piles of rotting garbage, plastic containers, tins, jars, containers, cushions, furniture, live and dead vegetation and disused electrical items all thrown into a big metal waste bin for disposal.
“Caring for our senior citizens is a priority as the municipality and we believe this cleaning intervention will improve gogo’s health and wellbeing, as well as that of her family,” said Ekurhuleni spokesperson, Themba Gadebe.
“We will also provide her with the necessary social assistance, including food parcels, and will continue to monitor the state of cleanliness of the home.”
According to Gogo’s youngest daughter, Mirriam Zama (35), her mother started collecting recyclable refuse material in 2010 and ever since then the amount of rubbish at their house escalated to alarming levels.
“It’s very difficult to manage her. She is now addicted to picking up anything, even if it’s not recyclable,” said the saddened Mirriam.
Traces of whooping cough and contagious body rash have been a great concern for neighbours whose children play at Zama’s house.
“This house has caused so many feuds among us as neighbours as we always complained of the pollution caused by the dirt and the health risk to our children. Today we are very grateful for the intervention by the municipality,” said Sara Msipha, who lives next door.
Zama has agreed to get professional help from the local authorities and she has also promised to abandon her hoarding habits.
