A long walk to shelter

Over a decade ago, Gogo Veleleni Elsie Masina (71) and her disabled brother, Enock Reuben (92), had high hopes that one day they will have their own home.

But, do date, the pair is still living in a shack, far from the single tap and toilet shared by the rest of the residents.”We

are the forgotten ones. Our peers, the ones who stood with us in the long queues in 1998 applying for RDPs, died in the comfort of their homes. Unfortunately for us, this tomb has been our only living place. The only difference is that we

sleep above and not beneath like the dead,” said the hopeless Veleleni.

During the Observer’s visit to the household, the cold winter’s wind blew dust into the shack, literally changing the mood inside to that of a graveside. Injuries visible on Enock’s legs as result of his crawling, shocked the interviewer. Enock has been living with epilepsy since he was a teenager. One day he fell so hard that he became permanently paralysed.

Gogo Velephi pushes Enock in a wheelchair and walks for two kilometres to the nearest clinic for both their monthly

checkups. Near Enock’s single bed, stands a man-made toilet, allowing him to relieve himself in a safer place, other than the one used by hundreds of his neighbours.

Adding to their daily struggle, the siblings care for two of their grandchildren, Siyabonga (15) and Angel (3). Their mother died when Angel was still an infant, two years ago. Gogo Velelphi shares her grant with Angel, who goes to a crèche.

The pressure of high school and house chores Siyabonga is responsible for, on the back of losing his mother, makes life even harder for this so-called ‘born free’.

According to gogo Veleleni’s daughter, Mrs Getrude Sibanyoni, a councillor in a different ward, Joyce Nkambule, told her that the RDP belonging to her mother was wrongly given to another person (known to the Observer), by the housing department three years ago.

” The Councillor even showed us the house.When we went there, the new owner, who works at a mine was not available. We inquired with the municipality and found out my mother’s details appear in the 2010’s RDP registrations. What crossed my mind that day was that some people have powers to swap and change RDP beneficiaries as they wish. Some people are lucky to register today and receive their houses the next day,” claimed Mrs Sibanyoni.

Cllr.Nkambule said she found out from an official working in the Municipal Housing department that there are two owners registered for the same RDP house.

” I still have to confirm both the beneficiaries’ personal details to get clarity on the matter. What I know now is that the house is occupied by someone other than the two registered appearing on the RDP waiting list ” said Nkambule.

Gogo Veleleni says mayor Mike Masina, and regional member of ANC Women’s league, Jeanette Mahlangu, promised her that the issue will be resolved by getting them sponsors.

“All they did was to come here and take pictures of our poor living conditions,” cried gogo Veleleni.

The Mayor commented saying ” I will have to refresh my memory on the matter. The council visited different

households in Avalon and it will be difficult for me to remember this particular one. The best thing to do is to secure an appointment with the Masinas to discuss the issue further. We have arranged sponsorship in the past for such matters and I am sure help will be available for the family “.

” Every Saturday morning, the limited taps in this area run dry until the afternoon,” said neighbours complaining about water shortages. They, too, cry foul of the many, many unfulfilled promises by the government.