People should never have to live like this – Chame
The informal settlement was only discovered when an infant died and the parents could not afford to pay for a funeral. Over 80 residents share one unsafe toilet in the informal settlement called Springbok.
MOFFATVIEW – DID you know there is another informal settlement growing in the south of Johannesburg?
You will find Springbok, as it has been named by the residents, hidden behind high trees. Here residents reside in rooms built from rubble instead of old corrugated iron.
DA ward 57 Clr Faeeza Chame only learnt about the informal settlement when one of the residents lost her three-month-old infant son to an illness and could not afford to pay for his body to be released from the mortuary.
After learning the sad news, Clr Chame realised that the people were living in the most horrible conditions one could ever imagine. There are about 10 children and over 80 adults. They all share one toilet which is built with plastic and boards on top of a tree branch, aligned across an open hole. Residents fetch their water from a spruit which passes behind the settlement. However, the smell coming from the spruit and the toilet is unbearable.
Clr Chame has already started assisting and reached out to individuals, companies and organisations to help with fresh water, toilets, and other essentials.
According to Clr Chame, most of the residents living in the informal settlement are unemployed and survive by doing odd jobs.
“They share their meals because they eat and cook together. There is no lights, water and sanitation. This is not acceptable. People should never have to live like this,” Clr Chame told the Southern COURIER.
The COURIER spoke to Dikeledi Mashile from the Housing Department who said that they were not aware of the settlement. They will look into the matter. The COURIER will keep our readers updated.
People wishing to help can contact Clr Chame on 082 5184 375 or faychame@hotmail.com
