YESTERDAY about 50 elderly and people living with disabilities took to the streets, saying they didn’t want to spend another Christmas in their shacks.
The residents of Clayville, in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni told Daily Sun they fear if they don’t act now they will lose the places of their dreams to fraudsters and corrupt officials who will sell them.
They said they felt neglected by the government, which promised they would get houses before anybody else.
Gogos with walking sticks and some in wheelchairs chanted and sang near the new RDP housing area being developed in Clayville.
The Disabled Forum members said they will sleep near the houses.
Forum member Minah Funani (47) said the municipality doe not consider their needs.
“There is no way a normal person can survive in the conditions we live under, let alone the elderly or the disabled.
“Most of us applied and registered for houses in 2006 and no one has been allocated a place,” said Minah.
“People with disabilities and the elderly are not taken seriously. We won’t be going anywhere until we are given those houses.”
City of Ekurhuleni PR councillor Lizah Phoko said: “These are special people who are supposed to be given preference but that is not happening.
“They have been in the rain now for two days without food. Officials must address their needs and make sure they get what they want.”
She said some of the elderly needed to go back to their homes to take medication.
