Imagine living in a small, uninhabitable shack where you only have mealie meal, rice and potatoes to live on every month, while a loan shark seizes your monthly old-age pension. This is a reality for Transit Camp resident and pensioner Standford Bonani and his son, Bongani Bonani, who have endured this for some time.
Imagine living in a small, uninhabitable shack where you only have mealie meal, rice and potatoes to live on every month, while a loan shark seizes your monthly old-age pension. This is a reality for Transit Camp resident and pensioner Standford Bonani and his son, Bongani Bonani, who have endured this for some time.
Their situation came to the attention of Makana Land and Housing Committee head, Councillor Zamuxolo Peter, who visited the family last month to see their living conditions.
A temporary fold-up house was arranged for them last month, but Peter would like to assist them further. "What we are struggling with is getting an ID [identity document]for him," said Peter. He explained that the ID is used for record-keeping purposes at the municipality and is required when applying for an RDP house and any other assistance.
Bongani said his father's ID was seized by a loan shark who resides in the Hlalani area. "She is the one that takes my pension every month, buys some groceries and leaves them for us at a general store in the area," Standford said.
He said the groceries are only a small portion of mealie meal, rice and potatoes which is hardly enough for the month. "We don't even have food at the moment," he said.
The shack, which looks like it could fall to the ground at any second, is still used as shelter by the family so they can make a fire to cook food. Their temporary house paints a sad picture of how they live with a mattress as their only furniture. Until Standford's ID can be located, Peter appeals to the members of the public to donate anything that could be of use to the family, such as a carpet for the temporary house or even blankets. Donations can be made to the attention of Lorraine Basson at the Technical and Infrastructural Services office. She can be reached on the contact number: 046 603 6063.
