Residents of an informal settlement at Salem say unrelenting poverty is driving them to crime.
Danile Mxube, a resident of the Salem informal settlement, told Grocott's Mail on Thursday that even their chickens are dying from a mysterious illness.
Residents of an informal settlement at Salem say unrelenting poverty is driving them to crime.
Danile Mxube, a resident of the Salem informal settlement, told Grocott's Mail on Thursday that even their chickens are dying from a mysterious illness.
He said they'd approached the Department of Agriculture, but had instead been referred to a doctor who had asked for R150 to conduct a post-mortem.
"I don't have that kind of money and the money I have is for paying these guys [workers]for helping me to deliver sand in Joza," he said.
Mxube said in Salem there was no business, no work and no food. "Our children are ending up stealing food from other farmers in Ndlambe Municipality," he said.
Mxube said if their daughters were forced to walk 7km to Ndlambe to steal pineapples, then their role as fathers was being trampled to dust.
"We are supposed to give light to our daughters and make them see a life more interesting than stealing," he said. Mxube felt they were not men if they couldn't provide for their families.
"As a man it is your duty to put food on the table," Mxube said. "This is pain and there's no one who is willing to help us. I feel like we're neglected."
Mzolisi Komani, also a Salem resident, echoes concerns over the lack of food and jobs. "I rely on cutting wood, which I sell for R25 a bundle," he said.
Komani is one of those who helps Mxube deliver sand. He said: "I have four children. I am married and all of those people, they look at me when there is no food," Komani explained. " What should I do?" he asked with tears on his eyes.
"There's nothing that can explain the pain we are experiencing in Salem more than the story of little girls who were arrested in Ndlambe stealing pineapples," said Mzolisi James.
"Our houses are still in a bad condition because of the rains last October," he said. He asked the Makana community to help in any way they could.
