Imagine waking up on daily basis surrounded by a structure that is filled with years of empty promises.

That is the situation of various residents in Extension 7, who live in difficult conditions without any improvement.

One resident, Julia Methuku, has been struggling to get her small house fixed since 2011. The asbestos roof has also given her health problems.

“It is really bad and the doctors have told me that my lung problems and coughing is because of the asbestos. It also is really bad when it rains and there is a lot of leakages. We can’t carry on like this. For years we have had only empty promises,” said Methuku.

Johanna Putsoane (29) lives with her family in a small house barely big enough to fit one person. According to her, she has been struggling like this for years. She also has had problems acquiring an ID-document at home affairs, which compounds her problems.

“I can’t put my kids in school as I can’t get them registered,” she adds.

According to community leader, Mandla Gaxele, this lack of basic services and poor living conditions is the norm in extension 7.

“As South Africans we need to work together. The enemy is corruption. Service delivery needs to be prioritized. We have no confidence in the current leadership,” states Gaxele.

The Herald asked the J.B. Marks Municipality for comment but did not receive feedback by the time of going to print.