WENDY Ndaba can finally celebrate after being given her prefabricated unit in Turffontein after their eviction from Fattis Mansions and Cape York in 2017.
She was one of the people who were placed next to Wembley Stadium in temporary tents after their units at Mansions and Cape York caught fire. When the time came for people to be placed in the prefabricated units, she was left out in the cold. She and her children continued living in the tent which was torn and cramped.
She said that in the tent, they lived in tough conditions and struggled through heavy rains.
“In winter my children were always sick. It was dangerous for us because people used to pass by in the middle of the night and we had no locking doors whatsoever. I fought tooth and nail to get this unit, which I finally have,” she said.
She said she was happy and thanked those who made it possible for her to get the unit.
The other problem which has surfaced is that she lost her identity document when her unit burnt down.
“I can’t apply for a job and my disabled son can’t get a grant. I don’t know what to do.
“Furthermore, I can’t get my disabled son to school, which makes me feel sick. I can’t even go and hunt for a job because I have to look after my son. I need help urgently,” said Ndaba.
She told COURIER she wil be forever grateful for her unit.
“Even with the problems I have, I’m still happy about the unit. I hope those who are still in the tents can be helped as well,” she concluded.
Ward 124 Clr Mongameli Mnyameni said he was happy for Ndaba.
“The people staying there were dumped by Mayor Herman Mashaba after they were illegally evicted by him. The court then ordered him to find alternative accommodation.
“The place was supposed to be used as temporary accommodation for those people, but it has been more than four years without any plan for them to be moved to a proper place by the City of Johannesburg. There are no services there at all, hence I say they were just dumped.
“Ablution facilities are not working, water is leaking all over the place and there are blocked sewers and drains. There is a company that is complaining every day about the sewer that is running through their yard and affecting their business very negatively.
“The community of Glenesk is not happy about the people who have been dumped there. There are allegations from the community that since those people were dumped there, they have been experiencing a high crime rate. Residents are also complaining that those people are not paying for services,” said Mnyameni.
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