Living in squalor, no service delivery
WITH the national and provincial elections looming, formal and informal dwellers co-existing in Crossmoor, Chatsworth, are undecided on whether they will cast their votes on May 8.
Both communities say councillors and politicians on the election trail are already trying to drum up support for their parties, but their service delivery needs, since 2014, have still not been met.
For the 40-odd families that live in the Cashew Avenue informal settlement, life continues to be a struggle.
“Some of us have electricity but every day is a battle for water and toilet facilities,” said grandmother of three, Doris Naidoo, 65.
She has been living at the settlement for 13 years. Her daughter, she said, had a part-time job.
“There are about 135 of us living here, but there are only seven communal toilets for men and women. It’s not even safe to walk there alone at night.”
Naidoo added that they had to collect water in buckets from the toilet facilities – where they also bathed, while others preferred to bath in their homes.
“We have addressed our concerns with the councillors and were promised this and that, but nothing has come off it. We can’t live like this forever. I don’t know whether it’s even worth voting.”
Rani Rampersadh, a part-time dressmaker, added: “I’ve also lived here for 13 years and have learned to accept this as my home.”
The 43-year-old mother of five said she contracted hepatitis from using the toilet and had to be hospitalised.
Leanne Maisuria, 31, said: “We wouldn’t have these problems if there were more jobs. Most of the people are here because they have either lost their jobs or cannot find work.”
The mother of four continued: “I want a home where the water does not leak into the house when it rains. I want indoor plumbing to bathe and use the toilet. My children cannot continue living like this.”
Across the road, ratepayers complained that the informal settlement had an adverse effect on the value of their homes.
A resident, who declined to be named, said she would get “next to nothing” if a buyer considered purchasing her two-bedroom house.
“I understand they (informal dwellers) are living under trying circumstances, but the area is a health hazard. They don’t have bins and as a result, all their garbage is thrown near the road.”
This, she said, was an eyesore. “The municipality needs to provide them with bins and they must clean up the area.”
George Anoos Naidoo, 57, said he was concerned about the lack of visible policing and measures to prevent motorists from speeding on the narrow road.
“Break-ins are happening daily. I joined the neighbourhood watch with the hope of reducing the crime but it just seems to be escalating. Added to this, motorists are driving at a speed in this residential area. We have called for the city to install speed bumps but our pleas fell on deaf ears.”
Another resident, who declined to be named, said the stormwater drain was forever clogged and when it rained, it resulted in her property being flooded.
“We have lodged numerous complaints but nothing.”
An elderly resident added that the litter and water, which overflowed from the informal settlement onto the road, resulted in a stench.
Alistair Aroomugam, from Acutts in Chatsworth, said that due to the mushrooming of informal settlements, a property that could sell for R1.5m would be reduced to around R800 000.
“Buyers are afraid to buy due to safety concerns.”
He said homeowners in Shallcross, who lived near informal settlements in Link Road and Harinagar Drive, were struggling to sell their properties.
The municipality did not respond for comment at the time of publication.