Officials’ broken promises on housing leaves family desperate
ALEXANDRA - An unemployed mother of three has for many years, been living under constant danger from a house that could collapse on them anytime.
An unemployed mother and her three children have been living with the constant danger of a house that could collapse on them any time.
This despite several promises made to her since 2010 by the housing department and a councillor to fix it or provide alternative accommodation.
The house on 3rd Avenue was constructed in 1902 and has been passed on within the family’s successive generations.
The current occupant, Tsidi Mphamo, who lives there with two of her three children, has been in it since 1969. Mphamo said the danger was from water that gathers, seeps and drains through the concrete roof onto the floor, and other water that seeps up the wall causing dampness which creates a foul smell.
“We risk our lives daily from its possible collapse and from electrocution caused by power tripping and short-circuiting when it gets in contact with water. This has caused us to change most of our electric appliances constantly after they have been damaged,” said Mphamo.
She further added that they also lost clothing and wooden furniture due to the damp, and that they constantly fell ill from the smell.
Mphamo recounted several failed promises to fix the house made to her after visits and inspections by the city council’s Department of Housing, the Joburg Development Agency, the Alexandra Renewal Project, current councillor Deborah Fransisco and, lately, by building control officials.
“Three weeks ago, the officials promised, but have failed to contact me, adding to a string of unfulfilled promises.” She added that she had thought the exposure of her plight to the MMC for Human Settlements, Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo, at a community meeting last month would have urged officials to prioritise her plight. “But I was mistaken.”
Mphamo pointed out cracks in the wall which she said creaked, indicating possible structural failure, and the peeling paint. “I now have [decided] not to paint the walls as it’s a waste of money, but to cover parts of them with clothing to conceal their hideous appearance.”
Local DA councillor, Shadrack Mkhonto, said he had raised the family’s problem with the housing control board at a ward councillors’ forum meeting. “I hope they will attend to the family urgently before the next rainy season and to avoid any possible danger.”
Mphamo, who also is on the council housing waiting list, hopes to be prioritised for accommodation if the house can’t be fixed.
Details: 079 444 1446.
