The situation is unsuitable for human habitation

Thomas Hadebe MP, DA Zululand West Constituency Head, writes:-

THE DEMOCRATIC Alliance reiterate the call it made last week to the Human Settlements and Public Works MEC Ravi Pillay, to immediately convene a forensic investigation on the allocation of RDP houses in AbaQulusi Municipality. This call to action is in the wake of an oversight visit by the DA which revealed that 400 families had taken up residence on a landfill site. The DA request that the MEC Pillay acts without delay and address the needs of this impoverished community.

The DA visit was to assess the suitability of the site and to establish the nature of the negative impact it has on the environment. Upon investigation, we were shocked to find approximately four hundred families living on the dump site in the area known as D5 section. The ANC ward councillor and the municipality are fully aware of this situation.

The DA also found children playing close to a heap of cow skulls and bones that were dumped on the landfill site. This situation is unsuitable to human habitation. In discussion with the community residing on the site, the community members painted a very painful picture of their living conditions. The negative impact on the community’s mental and physical well-being is cause for great concern and a violation of basic human rights.

Thus far, the only relief the municipality has provided is water provision once a month where one water tank is delivered, this is insufficient to meet the needs of all the members of the community.

The community of D5 section are yet to taste freedom. It is unfair for our people to live like stray animals in 22 years of democracy. When will our people get an opportunity to live in proper homes with basic services?

The DA will use all avenues available to make sure that people get help immediately.

The economic disenfranchisement of certain members of our society works against the realisation of an equitable society that the DA is advocating for.