By: Zethu Gweva
It has been over nine years since Ward 15 Ducats residents have been living in temporary structures that are currently collapsing.
One of the residents Ntombikayise Sidakana, 38, who lives with her husband Simthembile Sidakana, 45, and their five children said they were supposed to receive a house in 2002 but a mistake was made when the contractor built a tar road on their site.
After years of suffering and empty promises, they moved into a two-roomed temporary structure made out of ceiling boards in 2011, where if it rains, water floods the whole house, leaving the walls and the furniture damaged.
She added that their ward councillor, Makhaya Bopi promised that they were going to get a proper house and they would not live in a temporary structure longer than two years.
“These houses just collapse, we do not know why or how. The walls are falling apart, a person could just enter through the wall instead of the door to rob, rape or kill us because my husband is always at work,” said Sidakana.
According to the Phase Two Committee Member, Songezo Nkungwini, the Sidikana family vocalized their challenges in the 2015/16 IDP and Budget Roadshow held at the Ducats Community Hall. He said at the IDP meeting, Sithembele Sidakana expressed that his family sleeps in the same bedroom which prohibits the parents from having privacy.
“It was found as a joke when he mentioned his predicament but it is a serious matter. During the 2015/16 IDP meeting when the phase two project was discussed, Sidakana said he was still in Phase one and his house was on the map and it was never built instead a tar road was built on his site,” said Nkungweni.
He added that he has seen floods of water invading the house and it saddens him since the family has been vocal for more than ten years about their challenges yet there is still no change. The communal toilets are revolting, they have no seats, they get full and the residents need to stir the feces for it to descend.
Ward 15 Councillor Makhaya Bopi agreed that the temporary structures are old and they were supposed to last for at least five years but ever since he has been a Councillor in 2011, the temporary structures were already built.
He added that on February 11, 2020, a meeting that includes all Ducats residents without houses will be held to discuss all the challenges.
“I forwarded all the complaints and the reports to the authorities. I don’t know what’s delaying the process of constructing houses for the people,” said Bopi.