THEY call their area Chocolate City but nothing about their lives is sweet.
The residents of KwaDambuza in Pietermaritzburg live in mud houses that are as dark as chocolate.
But they said when heavy rain falls, their houses melt in the rain like chocolate melting in the mouth.
These residents accuse Msunduzi Municipality of ignoring their many pleas for RDPs and toilets.
Promise Sibiya (54) said they had held several protests against the municipality, demanding RDPs and toilets, but the municipality had made no moves.
She said they held a protest last month.
“We don’t call our area Chocolate City because we love the fact that our houses look like chocolate. This name came up because our houses melt away whenever it rains. We named our area after chocolate because we wanted to be noticed,” said Promise.
Another resident, Delokuhle Madlala (62), said that most of the residents were poor and couldn’t afford decent houses.
“There is a high rate of unemployment in this area.
“We are some of the poorest residents and we cannot afford houses. That’s why we demand RDP houses because we are constitutionally entitled to them,” said Delokuhle.
He said that his mud house had been destroyed by rain many times.
Msunduzi mayor Themba Njilo said that the municipality was aware of the matter.
“They protested and gave me a list of their grievances.
“I know very well what these residents want and we can assure them that the municipality is dealing with the matter. They are not being ignored.
“We are still trying to negotiate with the land owners,” said Njilo.
