By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
NB: This touching story is inappropriate for sensetove readers!!
The recent heavy rains in Setjwetla that flooded many homes, have left some victims with two options: To vacate the dangerous place that always exposes them to danger, or to pick up the pieces and rebuild
Morgan Masina (45) has been dwelling in the area for 8 years and survived through fixing electronics.
During the recent floods that left many houses damaged in Setjwetla, his was badly destroyed!
When Alex Reporter arrived, the man was trying to fix his shack. Like many others, he has no other place to go to.
” last month there was fire and my shack also burned down. Now its rain…this is a bad luck,” said Masina.
He said no official came to check his condition. He said many people have been relocated and he was left in the area.
We first shared the story of Masina on Alex Reporter Facebook page, and this is what some readers had something in common on their unedited comments:
” This is another way of getting RDP and he is not a south African,” said Patri Viera Vendaland.
“That’s not bad luck broer but u tried your luck at a wrong place so move,” said Thabiso Moloto.
“I don’t want to jump in to sympathy as some of these people take advantage if you understand alex problem. Most were taken away from this problem but they keep taking advantage cause they will be given preferential rights to RDPs. We know this tendency some of us,” Phala Kgalemone commented.
“Some people are crazy…you’re the one to blame here…how many times have you been warned about building in such places? And then you blame the government…😒,” wrote Abdhula Saloan.
“Where is EFF because it should be their problem to fix as they told Ppl to occupy the space,” Lufuno Lwamudzimu.
“10 years ago people were moved from sejwetla to the new rdp houses and 8 years ago he went and built a shack where he definitely knows that he will be allocated a house. Not in our watch people have been waiting for decades to be allocated yet its given to people who are willing to risk with their lives and jump the que,” said Talita Maleka.
The following day, our team went back to the are spoke to a number of residents we who vowed to rebuild. The said the comments and views of people of people with no first-hand experience.
” Everyone knows that Alex has no land. Comes rain or not, we will stay here. If our shacks are swept away, we will rebuild.
” I’m not staying here because I want an RDP, nope! I’m here because I’m tired of paying rent. I’m here because I can’t afford luxury life. When I came here from KZN, I stayed with my brothers in Marlboro. The small room was congested because we’re were 6 of us.
” My brother who owned the shack that we had occupied , sometimes he had sex with his girlfriend when we were there. I was tired of listening to her screams whenever she reached orgasms. That was not the kind of life I wanted because I’m normal! So I had to move and hustle as a man. I don’t care about people who comment as they please because they haven’t to a similar challenge.
” I know we have people whose intention is to benefit for better place when they are moved, but some of us we have a different mission here,” said an angry resident whose flooded shack was nearly swept away in Setjwetla.
” But if they offer me a better place, I wont reject it,” he said.
Another victim we spoke to said he didn’t care about an RDP.
” I’m currently unemployed. Do you think I want to stay in this land? And stop thinking that everyone who stays here is a foreign national. I’m originally from KZN as well and I’m pure Zulu. We have no other option bro,” said a man who asked to remain anonymous.
All pics by Mashamba Media.
