Kenilworth-based residents get water from a drain
What bothers residents is the filthy water they have to their disposal.
Residents of the ‘white house’ are fed up of having to get water from a leak at the main supply.
The Kenilworth-based residents said they have been silent long enough now it’s time for their grievances to be heard.
What bothers residents is the filthy water they have to their disposal. They said they are forced to get water from a hole and that this is the only water they have to use to bath, wash their clothes and cook.
One of the residents, Noquqa January, told the COURIER she has been living in Kenilworth for the past 30 years and she never owned a tap or flushing toilet.
“I’m an elderly woman and every morning I have to go get water from a hole with buckets and containers.
“Using filthy water has become part of our lives, but that doesn’t mean we have to leave things as they are,” said January.
Residents said sometimes they get help from Kenilworth High School as they allow them to draw clean water inside the school.
“Also, getting water from the school is problematic because it’s not an everyday thing.
“The school is many kilometres away from us and we as old people can’t walk that distance and come back carrying two full 20-litre buckets,” explained January.
Another complaining resident, Jacob Mnguni, said the issue of the white house is tiring because they live like animals.
“We don’t have electricity or water, but now and again one is forced to go and vote.
“We have been running in and out of the councillor’s office for help with regards to service delivery, but nothing is being done to help people like us,’’ said Mnguni.
The COURIER learned that the house, where about 40 people live in, was abandoned by the owner who is unknown to the COURIER and residents.
Councillor Mongameli Mnyameni said he knows about the ‘white house’ and he has been there, but doesn’t know the owner.
“The house is under someone’s name and if I go there to install taps and electricity the owner might come and say I hijacked the property.
“As I have said to them before, they have to go to a police station and do an affidavit, which will be taken to the municipality.
“In that affidavit they will request the municipality to allow them to pay for electricity and water,” said Mnyameni.
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