Abandoned community in the township

Eighteen years into democracy one would expect a decent lifestyle for a normal citizen but this seems to be a promise that is constantly being made and never kept by those who hold power. In the outskirts of Soweto just a stone throw from Eldorado Park down in Union Road lie a concealed village. Devland squatter camp is a home to most people who originate from neighbouring country such as Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Bua Soweto News visited the area and were met with shattering scenes of people still living in wet land since they squatter themselves in 1998. The living conditions are not pleasing let and healthy for a human-being and up until now they have yet to see any developmental changes. These destitute residents utilise dirty water from the well to drink, bath and do laundry as they have no other alternative. To make ends meet they rely on recycling cans, papers, bottles and tins, for each and every day they keep themselves busy by collecting recycling material from nearby townships. Moena Phollo says that the water help them to do washing and also to prepare meals, we drink water because we don‘t have pipes in our area, as you can see that we are living on our own land. “We have been staying in this place for quite some-time, the government once came for inspection, saw our dire living condition then made promises which till now are yet to be fulfilled” The Joburg City Council responded as follows •Do the department know of their existence? If so, were there any visits to the place? And who owns the land they live in? Answer: The City of Johannesburg's Displaced Unit is aware of the people in the area you mention in your enquiry. Field worker from this unit have on numerous occasions visited the area. The place in question is a landfill site. The people referred to have been drawn into the place by recycling activities. •What has the department done to remedy the situation? Answer: The social workers visit the area regularly. The key person in the area is a Mr Alfred who is also a gatekeeper in this community and is familiar with the efforts of the Displaced Persons Unit. The majority of them are undocumented migrants from Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The main concern has been around the children, where the unit has been trying to facilitate schooling, but the parents have not been cooperative. The Department has made the community aware of the services offered by the City and tried to engage especially women to be relocated, however this has not been successful. •What kind of help(if any) will the department offer to those people? Answer: The social workers continue to be available to assist the residents and providing information on services offered by the City and other spheres of government. An exercise to profile the residents has been undertaken and some of the inhibiting factors for people to accept the options offered has been fear of deportation and that of separation from their children and partners.