The struggle for survival for Cosmo City siblings
After losing both parents, a family of seven is struggling to make ends meet, facing exploitation and uncertainty about their future, but there is a little light coming to their home.
The Mahlinza-Nqgalo siblings, in Cosmo City Ext 4, are facing an incredibly challenging situation after the loss of both parents. Their father passed away in 2019, leaving their mother to care for the seven children on her own.
Despite renting out parts of their home, including a garage used as a tuckshop and a salon, the family struggled to make ends meet, due to their mother’s debt. After their mother’s passing in 2024, the siblings were left to fend for themselves.
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The situation took a devastating turn when the people their mother owed money to, took away the furniture, leaving the house empty and in a bad condition. The bathroom toilet was even leaking, causing water to fill the house.
The siblings’ struggles were further complicated by the fact that only one sibling, Zinzi Mahlinza (28), has an identification document (ID). The rest lack IDs due to lost birth certificates, which has forced most of them to drop out of school, with only two remaining.
The family’s financial struggles continue, with the tenants taking advantage of the siblings. The tuckshop owner, who was supposed to pay R3 000 rent a month, has stopped paying, and instead offers the siblings food and cosmetics from his shop. The salon is still operating, but claims there’s no electricity, so they don’t see the point in paying rent.
Zinzi spoke about the toll the situation has taken on the family: “The situation has destroyed my siblings and me. They had to drop out of school, and they try to get piece jobs here and there, but that’s not enough.” The siblings have turned to substance abuse as a coping mechanism, with some smoking weed, hubbly, and drinking alcohol.
Despite the challenges, Zinzi expressed a desire to turn their lives around: “I want to be better for my kids and siblings. I want us to stop all the wrong things we’ve been doing, and go back to being a lovely and happy family again.” Zinzi hopes to get help for their substance abuse issues, for the siblings to obtain IDs, and for the family to receive support from social workers.
And there is a little light at the end of the tunnel.
The Mahlinza-Nqgalo siblings received help from local political party, ActionSA. The party has installed a new toilet, cleaned up the house, and plans to return on Mandela Day, July 18, to paint the house, bring in new furniture, and provide clothing. Local political leader, councillor Sello Mabelebele, has also warned the tenants that they will be evicted if they don’t pay their rent by the end of the month.
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