Struggle for a better life
They have been part of the struggle for a better life, but 20 years into democracy life has worsened for the Soul City people.
When walking through the streets of Soul City, it seems as if the sick and elderly were left there to die.
“If one shack catches fire and the flames spread to the other shacks, it will have serious consequences “ — Boitemelo Mbaba
“We as a community are left to fend for ourselves because the government just does not care!” says Clara Ntsepo (62), owner of non-profit organisation Sisonkwe Sewing Beads and Crafters, who does sewing for a living.
In a small, one-room shack the sick Albert Sanego (61) lies on the floor. He does not speak much, but the look in his eyes tells of his hard life.
Next to him are the remains of a fire he had made the previous night to keep him warm. Not far from the place he calls home is a shack that caught fire, leaving the owner hospitalised.
Boitemelo Mbaba, one of more than 3 000 residents of the Soul City informal settlement says that the homes are so close to each other that it is a fire tragedy waiting to happen.
“If one shack catches fire and the flames spread to the other shacks, it will have serious consequences.”
Ntsepo who is said to have given the residential neighbourhood Sinqobile its name, says that she applied for a house in Munsieville in 1992.
“This home of mine was sold in 1995 and I was promised a home at Sinqobile.”
She shows the title deeds that she got from Mogale City Local Municipality.
“I have phoned them several times but they just do not care to provide answers.”
She explains that she too was part of the fight for a better and free South Africa for all. She was about 24 years old when she participated in the 16 June 1976 uprising and bears the scars on her shoulder and head.
“I had my six-month-old baby on my back, but during the uprising I lost my baby and my husband. I don’t even know where my husband was buried.”
When he accompanied the news to the informal settlement, Dr Joseph Katwala Meddy, the African Christian Democratic Party’s (ACDP) West Rand Regional Chairperson and a pastor at the Christhood Chapel in Krugersdorp said that he was shaken by the conditions the people live in.
They walk to several taps to fill buckets with water and they neither have proper toilet facilities nor electricity.
“After 20 years of democracy it is sad to see that people are living like this,” says Meddy.
He says that the public funds used for security upgrades at President Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla residence could have been used to build houses for the people of this country.
“The Bible says that we need to help the needy. We live by Godly principles, therefore we as a church need to help these people.”
Meddy said that as a start, they plan to provide food to the people twice a month.
