Muizenberg shack-dwellers flooded out of their homes

The floods caused serious damage to her furniture. Her bed and couch are soiled. Her fridge no longer works anymore. A few other homes in a low-lying part of the township were also flooded.

Nomfundo is not employed. Her husband does odd jobs. All five of her children were born in the shack. They are used to it and have adjusted to the environment. But the youngest, a five-year-old child, is too young to understand. She is coughing a lot. The eldest daughter is 24 and works at Shoprite where she earns R400 a week. Two other children have matriculated, but are struggling to find employment. The other child is in grade eight at school.

Floods affect her health which was compromised by a car accident which led to kidney surgery five years ago. Nomfundo told GroundUp that the pain from the kidney surgery becomes more unbearable if her shack is wet and cold. She said she cried a lot last week Thursday and Friday, because her body was in such pain when the shack flooded.

“I feel sad and I am desperate,” says Siko. “It hurts to see my furniture destroyed every year, knowing that I cannot afford to replace it. I applied for an RDP house, but nothing came out of it. I am tired of going to follow up; in the process I am losing money I do not have [to lose].”

“I have also tried to look for help from non-profit organisations, and applied for a government grant. But these days it is about who you know.”