Waterless village houses uBuntu spirit
Hardship has drowned itself in their misty eyes. Here, the struggle is real!
In this little village of roughly five or maybe six mud huts, one hut has the privilege of being the venue for the Gogo (grannies) Lunch Club.
The lunch club happens every Tuesday when the elderly women gather in fellowship, to enjoy each other’s company…to laugh, sing or perhaps to cry but most especially to discuss the very serious issue of water.
Suffering has carved its mark into the weathered faces of the 12 elderly ladies crammed together in the small 4sqm “clubhouse”.
Hardship has drowned itself in their misty eyes. Here, the struggle is real!
There are no pipes to bring water…the solitary tap located 500 metres away taunts the village with the promise of water… empty containers lie stacked in a wheelbarrow waiting for the day the water will return.
In the backyard, an elderly man has tried in vain to establish a vegetable garden to feed the elderly residents…the hard, crusty ground suffocates any seedlings he plants…he has almost given up.
The JoJo tank, with a gutter from the roof to catch water if it rains, is empty and a few metres away from the “clubhouse” is a small graveyard where Mthembu family members have been laid to rest…. the ground is so dry not even a shrub can be planted to make the grave site pretty.
Making ends meet
Each Tuesday the women dress in their finest, they embrace each other then get to the very serious business of survival.
With crochet hooks and knitting needles in hand and swatches of material, all donated to the village by a nearby coal mine, Future Coal, they make blankets, linen and clothes they hope to sell by Christmas to get in a small income for the festive season.
There are no facilities that cater for the elderly in this village. The youngest is in her 50s but they take care of each other. Today they are all smiles. They have a guest…Barbara Elliot. They know her well. She visits them often.
Their embrace is heartfelt, warm, filled with affection when they see her. Even Thomas Mkhomode, who is wheelchair-bound, is dressed in his finest.
His niece and caregiver, Mthandaze Mthembu, takes care of him in the village. Barbara is convinced he is the oldest man alive in the Newcastle area.
The await for water
The Gogo Lunch Club is in for a special treat today…. cake, biscuits and tea are on the menu. The tea will have to wait though….there is “lutho” (nothing) water.
Barbara explains that the solar panel meant to supply power to the water pump is not operational. The municipality has no money to pay for a water tanker to fill the village tanks.
It costs about R5,800 a trip. Future Coal sends a water tanker whenever they can to fill the jojo tanks.
Recently however it has been weeks the village has been without water even though the area is surrounded by dams.
To repair the pump, the services of an electrician and plumber are required but nobody seems to want to help the aged community.
These are proud villagers…they don’t want handouts, they want to be productive and self-sufficient but what can be achieved without water?
Barbara leaves the Gogo Lunch Club to enjoy their feast. As she says her goodbyes, they gently take her hand, look beseechingly into her eyes with earnestness and whisper…. “amanzi”.
ALSO READ: Fundraiser for Gogo Lunch Club
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