ZOHARA Zaman’s 15-year-old niece has turned into a nyaope addict who sleeps with whoever will give her money for her next fix.
What’s even worse is that the 40-year-old woman’s daughter (17) is pregnant.
And those are not all Zohara’s problems. Her disability grant has been cancelled, and she and her family do not have a place to live because her family home had been demolished.
It was allegedly built on land that had not been properly surveyed.
Zohara lives in Mangosuthu, near Piet Retief in Mpumalanga. She and her kids have been sleeping outside their demolished house for the past two weeks.
“When our house was demolished, the then councillor promised us that we would be given an RDP house,” she said.
“The promise was made 14 years ago but nothing has happened yet.
“We have been living on the generosity of neighbours and other residents.
“The situation has turned my niece into a magosha. She sleeps with anyone just so she can get her next fix.
“My older daughter is pregnant, because she was forced to live with men just to have a roof over her head.
“And my other niece was raped after we were kicked out of a house we rented last month. I couldn’t pay rent because my disability grant was cancelled.”
Zohara said she told her story to three councillors, but couldn’t get help. She even reported the matter to mayor Bhekabantu Mtshali, but still has not received any support.
She now fears her son (14) may also drop out of school.
Sassa spokesman Senzeni Ngubeni said they were investigating the matter, and would decide how to help Zohara.
Mkhondo Municipality had not responded to questions sent to them at the time of going to print.
