An elderly couple who have lived in a mud home in Phaphamani informal settlement for 15 years have despaired of the government's pledge to prioritise senior citizens when allocating RDP houses.
An elderly couple who have lived in a mud home in Phaphamani informal settlement for 15 years have despaired of the government's pledge to prioritise senior citizens when allocating RDP houses.
Jack Jafta, 75, and his wife Nomhle Koleto, 64, who have been living in Phaphamani since 1998, say the government has overlooked them.
Koleto said, "My husband and I have been applying for years, but we get rejected all the time." They said they had applied in vain for houses in extensions 8,9 and 10.
Referring to assurances by the Mayor earlier this year that elderly people are always prioritised when it come to allocating RDP houses, Jafta said his former and current neighbours, most of whom are younger than him, had been allocated houses in those areas.
Mayor Zamuxolo Peter, called on to account for housing backlogs, was addressing a meeting at Nombulelo Hall in August.
Unemployed People's Movement member Ayanda Kota said it was unacceptable that the couple were still living in a mud structure.
Kota said, "This thing where an 18-year-old gets a house before a 75-year-old cannot be accepted. According to the South African Constitution older people should be prioritised."
Kota said there had been recent cases in which older people had died waiting for RDP houses.
He referred to this as structural violence.
Phaphamani Location is a poverty-stricken informal settlement with more than 300 shacks mostly occupied by elderly people. Most Phaphamani residents, like this couple, are dependent on social grants.
Although some houses in this township have electricity, not all of them have proper sanitation. Most still have long-drops.
WIth the general elections just around the corner, the couple said their vote for the ruling party was by no means assured.
Koleto said, "My husband and I have been voting since 1994 and seemingly our votes are not taken seriously. Hence we will take a back seat this time."
Makana Municipality spokesperson Mncedisi Boma was not available for comment.
