Christine Muller (39) still waits for a house after years of promises
Ward 17 councilor Peter Rafferty said only housing officials deal with the allocation of houses.
“The right to adequate housing is an important basic human right which is recognised in the Constitution and international human rights instruments. Housing provides shelter, a place to eat, sleep, relax, and raise a family. The right to adequate housing ensures that people enjoy physical and mental health and live in a safe place in peace and dignity,” this statement is from the South African Human Rights Commission.
Unfortunately, this statement cannot be said for Christine Muller (39) and her three children.
Muller was only 16 years old when she discovered that she has a breathing problem. “Doctors said that I had asthma and then they diagnosed me with Tuberculosis (TB). My late parents also had health issues. Later, it was discovered that I have a hole in my lung. I gave birth to three healthy children but my third born had complications and only lived for ten months and passed away. It was with my fourth children where I really struggled to breathe and needed an oxygen machine.
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“I was on 34 tablets in the morning and at night I had to take another four. The medication made me tired all the time and I couldn’t do anything so I left the treatment. That’s when the doctors gave me the oxygen machine. I was living with it in a shack here in my late parents’ yard,” said Muller.
The resident added that the minister of health visited her home about ten or eleven years ago and promised a house for her and her family because it is not healthy to live in a shack.
“I filled in all the forms and I have been on the waiting list for an RDP house. My documents are with the Department for Human Settlements. I’m dependent on the oxygen machine and I cannot go without it. It was difficult to live in my shack with this oxygen machine because it got really hot and made the shack very uncomfortable. The shack was dusty and it was difficult for me with my condition to live in there, even my children suffered,” explained Muller.
The resident is helped by another resident; Florence Steemkamp who has taken Mullers documents back to the Department of Human Settlements.
Muller cannot work and receives a disability grant. She also has a letter from a social worker from Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital which speaks about her medical condition and why it’s important for her to have a decent home.
Skeemkamp mentioned that years ago, members of political parties came into the area to interview and promised them houses but after all the voting was done, no one fulfilled their promises.
“I am begging for help because if I have to die, my children will be left with nothing. I am in desperate need of a house or even a flat. I am asking anyone to please help me.
“I am living now with family but this house is too full. I know that I might not have a very long time to live but I would be at peace once I have my own place for my children and me to live in,” concluded Muller.
Ward 17 councilor Peter Rafferty said only housing officials deal with the allocation of houses. “The current backlog of people still waiting goes back to 1995. We are currently engaging National, Provincial, and Local Government Human Settlement in this regard. We have put together the Greater Eldorado Park Housing Task Team that has assisted with the allocations in Fleurhof,” said Rafferty.
If you can assist the resident, you can contact Florence Steemkamp on 060 306 7195.
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