Thirty-two years into South Africa’s democracy, some of the country’s impoverished citizens continue to live under inhumane conditions.
Eyewitness News has visited a community in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, where dilapidated mud houses have been home to at least 60 people since 2009.
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However, unlike many other informal settlements, the homes are not built on land designated for residential use.
Instead, the homes stand dangerously close to the R555 highway, where heavy trucks and other vehicles speed past daily.
The constant noise of trucks and speeding vehicles is a sound these Middelburg residents have become all too familiar with.
Just metres away from the R555 highway, a cluster of makeshift homes stands exposed to the dangers of passing traffic.
Thirty-two years into South Africa’s democracy, some of the country’s impoverished citizens continue to live under inhumane conditions. Picture: Simphiwe Nkosi/EWN
Thirty-two years into South Africa’s democracy, some of the country’s impoverished citizens continue to live under inhumane conditions. Picture: Simphiwe Nkosi/EWN
The structures, built from mud and wooden sticks, are so small that they are barely bigger than a parking bay.
Plastic sheets serve as roofs.
And just outside their front doors, the rushing traffic is less than ten metres away.
For Johannes Manaka, this has been home for almost two decades.
“We are used to this kind of life. It’s our reality and it’s all we know. Our children grew up here and are now in tertiary.”
Thirty-two years into South Africa’s democracy, some of the country’s impoverished citizens continue to live under inhumane conditions. Picture: Simphiwe Nkosi/EWN
Thirty-two years into South Africa’s democracy, some of the country’s impoverished citizens continue to live under inhumane conditions. Picture: Simphiwe Nkosi/EWN
‘THIS HIGHWAY EARNS US A LIVING’
Residents are not interested in being relocated to better housing, saying they’re content with the mud huts they’ve occupied since 2009.
The community has occupied the space, despite having no access to basic services such as running water and electricity.
Several mud houses stand as though they could collapse at any moment.
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Thirty-two years into South Africa’s democracy, some of the country’s impoverished citizens continue to live under inhumane conditions. Picture: Simphiwe Nkosi/EWN
For Isaac Mathebula, the highway is not just a source of danger, but also a source of income.
He said he sells coal sourced from an abandoned mine to motorists.
“Government can relocate us, but this highway earns us a living. If they relocate us, we’d have no income. So, I’d rather stay here.”
The Steve Tshwete Municipality has yet to respond to EWN’s questions.
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Alpha Ramushwana
www.ewn.co.za
