http://www.themercury.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4771963

Shack people plead for help to rebuild lives

December 23, 2008 Edition 1

GUGU MBONAMBI

RESIDENTS of the Kennedy Road informal settlement in Clare Estate, Durban, are still waiting for assistance such as blankets, food parcels and building materials so they can rebuild their lives after they lost all their belongings in a fire on Saturday night.

They told The Mercury yesterday that they felt helpless and neglected because nobody from the municipality, including their ward councillor, visited them to assess the damage when about 30 shacks were razed by fire.

On Sunday ward councillor Yacoob Baig promised to provide the nearly 200 people who were left homeless after the blaze with resources.

However, when The Mercury contacted him yesterday he said he was having difficulty getting assistance from various NGOs.

“It is very difficult getting things done, especially since it is the festive season and most people have gone on leave,” he said.

Some had started rebuilding their shacks, while others said they had no choice but to wait for assistance.

Sifiso Ngobe, 40, said after spending Saturday night sleeping outside he withdrew his last cent yesterday morning to buy materials.

“I couldn’t just sit and fold my arms because it doesn’t look like anybody is going to come and assist us. I withdrew R1 180 from the bank so that I could buy poles, corrugated iron sheet and cement. I don’t have a single cent left because I didn’t budget for this to happen,” said Ngobe.

S’bu Zikode, the president of Abahlali baseMjondolo (shack dwellers’ movement), urged the government to provide shack dwellers with basic services while they waited for low-cost houses.

“The government needs to be practical and accept that shack dwellers are a community because tin houses are not a solution. People just need basic provision of services such as electricity, fire hydrants, enough standpipes, waste collection and access route,” said Zikode.

Zikode said people needed to be responsible and stop leaving candles unattended or children on their own.

Khethiwe Vundisa, 44, said she was devastated that nobody had come to help them.

“I’m going to be lonely this Christmas because my children can’t even come to visit me. I have absolutely nothing and I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she said.