RESIDENTS of transit camps near Lamontville in Durban have lost faith in eThekwini Municipality.
They were placed in the camps 11 years ago and there is no sign yet that they will get RDPs any time soon.
Nompumelelo Mhlakwana (42) said she was moved to a camp after the municipality said it wanted to build RDPs in the area where her house was.
“They demolished our shacks and promised to build houses,” she said.
“We heard that houses were built but then given to strangers.
“I’ve been living in this camp since 2007.”
Another resident said they had to deal with rats daily.
“I have also found snakes in my room. Living here is torture,” she said.
“We vote each time there’s an election, hoping that our lives will change.”
Wellington Zwane (52) told Daily Sun his room was struck by fire twice.
“Electricity was only installed last year,” he said.
“Previously, we got electricity through izinyoka. The wires caused my room to catch fire twice in 2012.”
Councillor Sibongile Khanyile, who only started in the position in 2016, told the People’s Paper: “I know residents of transit camps have issues, but I can assure them that the municipality is dealing with them. As a councillor I will never forget about them and their concerns.”
Khanyile said a housing project in Cornubia will cater for people living in transit camps.
And municipal spokeswoman Princess Nkabane told Daily Sun she has asked the housing department to check why the transit camp people have had to wait such a long time for RDPs.
