‘Trapped in jail in my own yard’ – pensioner
A PORT Alfred pensioner is up in arms over lengthy delays by the Ndlambe Municipality to provide proper access to her house.
After years of trespassing on a neighbouring vacant plot to get to her property, Noyedwa Makasi was forced to make another plan when the land was sold and the new owners built a house last year – cutting off her access.
Faced with the prospect of climbing two metres up a ladder just to get onto her elevated property, the 78year-old managed to convince a neighbour behind her house to cut a hole in their fence so she can temporarily access her place through their yard.
Makasi, however, said their patience was also running out and she was worried family from King William’s Town and Port Elizabeth would not be able to visit her during the Christmas holidays as they did not want to park their vehicles on the road and traipse through neighbouring gardens.
“It feels like I am trapped in a jail in my own yard.”
According to Makasi, she had been promised access for years but it never materialised.
She said she had occupied her house for more than 50 years and that access had not been a problem – even after the local authority built a twometre concrete wall to shore up her elevated plot – as she had been able to use the neighbouring vacant plot to get in.
That all changed last year when the plot was sold and her new neighbours built their own house.
Although they initially allowed her, they changed their mind two weeks ago, saying people coming and going through their garden was a security risk.
“My neighbours are not happy at all and they have asked me to sort out my own entrance. I am worried that soon I will not be able to get into my property.”
According to Makasi, she was tired of “empty promises” for more than a year from the municipality and local ANC councillor Skhumbuzo Venene that the problem would be sorted.
While officials had visited her two weeks ago saying they would cut through the retaining wall and make a driveway, she had not had any progress report from them by Wednesday.
Local councillor Venene said the elderly pensioner was “100% right” when she claimed she had been denied proper access for years.
“It’s a very serious issue that should have been sorted out years ago.”
He said the area had recently been surveyed by a professional and they were awaiting the final green light from Ndlambe officials before work could commence. According to Venene, the entrance driveway would be completed before Christmas.
“It was only brought to my attention last year . . . it’s complicated and has taken a long time to get right as we do not want any legal breach later.