Joburg ’ s inner city residents voice anger over their living conditions

From demolished shacks to water and electricity outages, SA’s coronavirus lockdown has worsened inner-city dwellers’ living conditions, as they are now without much-needed necessities for months on end.

The socioeconomic impact of Covid-19 has been devastating for communities across Gauteng, especially in Bertrams, Jeppe informal settlement and parts of Hillbrow.

Gugulethu Mkoko, 36, who lives in one of the rundown flats in Bertrams, has resorted to using illegally connected electricity and ferrying water from the nearby Johannesburg stadium.

On Wednesday, Mkoko and hundreds of Inner City Resource Centre members marched to Gauteng premier David Makhura’s office to hand over a memorandum demanding better living conditions.

“If I can just get a proper house for me and my three children I will be very happy. A place with water, proper sanitation and electricity,” Mkoko said.

Mkoko has lived in the flat for nearly 23 years.

“The provincial government has promised us for years that they will move us to better accommodation.

“We know if we leave these flats without moving into a proper house, the government will turn our place into a student residence as they did to other dilapidated flats,” she said.

Mkoko ’ s old friend Nontlantla Nomeva, who arrived in Johannesburg from Tarkastad, in 2006 looking for better employment, lives in the next building.

When the Sunday Times Daily arrived at the flat, she was doing laundry and waiting for Mkoko and others to return from the march.

Another resident Melta Masipa said she had no problem paying for water and electricity, but the government had to install electricity and water meters. “I’m a pensioner, but I can still hustle and pay my own way ... But in the meantime I use illegally connected electricity and water until the government gives me my own house, ” Masipa said.

Nomalizo Khayingana, of Jeppe informal settlement, has lived in her shack for nearly 14 years. “I survived Covid, but I do not know how ... I do not have proper sanitation or running water.”

Khayingana, who was among hundreds who marched to Makhura’s office, said for the past 27 years they had marched, protested and submitted memorandums to previous premiers without any response.

“We have pushed to be included onto various government schemes and imbizos, purported to provide sustainable solutions for the housing crisis facing the City of Johannesburg and Gauteng province in general.

“These have not led to tangible results,” Khayingana said.

Handing the memorandum to Makhura’s office, ICRC organiser Shereza Sibanda said they demanded an immediate end to evictions of the poor and working class residents.

“We demand provision of sufficient water and sanitation services to the most marginalised residents of the city and province, ” Sibanda said.

Further demands included:

● Recognition of inner-city dilapidated buildings as deserving development;

● Introduction of rent-control measures and legislation to stop rampant exploitation by owners;

● A full review of the social housing sector, including ownership models; and

● Provision of decent housing to all informal settlement and backyard dwellers.

Sibanda said they had given Makhura three days to respond to their demands or they would camp outside his office until he responded.

The memorandum was accepted by Mthuthuzeli Siboza, the head of the rapid response team in Makhura’s office.

Siboza promised to hand the report to Makhura for a response.