Tue Jun 18 08:00:12 SAST 2013

Life on the river banks - A SPECIAL REPORT

Apr 26, 2012 | LIFE ON THE EDGE: A Sowetan Special Report by reporter Sibongile Mashaba and photographer Vathiswa Ruselo | 11 comments

LIVING IN FEAR OF THE RAIN: When the skies turn grey, people living in Stjwetla, on the edge of Jukskei River in Alexandra, panic...

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Tue Jun 18 08:00:12 SAST 2013 ::
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Apr 26, 2012

MORNACHIESS

Wherever u lay your head .....then it's your home .
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Apr 26, 2012

MommaC

Its a shack. Pack it up and move further from the river.
People in rural areas would never throw human waste into a river - why do they think it is acceptable in the city?
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Apr 26, 2012

CheeseBoy

I distinctly remember some years ago squatters launched violent protests over the govt forcibly removing them from this river bank. I know our govt is full of sh!t but the poor are also ignorant and stubborn.

Next time poor people you will think about the perils of this river when you are in the voting booth. a simple X marks the spot and your future. and if you put your X next to kanga mans dome you will only have yourselves to blame. a rude awakening is a good thing sometimes.
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Apr 26, 2012

Mgodoyi

Beside Maluleke’s case, but the truth is the local government has tried and sometimes people are abusing the offer . It is a well-known secret that people living next to the river have been moved to the RDP houses . Now all these foreigners do now is go straight next to the river and build their shacks so that when the floods come , they’re all relocated to RDP houses . I have a relative and he did the same thing move his shack next to the river then 8 months later they moved them to an RDP house. Good strategy !!!!
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Apr 26, 2012

Kasiologist

@Mgodoyi, I understand that its also been turned into a business venture, move to the river, get moved to an RDP, sell it and move to the river again. Local municipality should turn a blind eye on these people, why in earth's creation would they populate an area from which people were relocated.
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Apr 27, 2012

Pointman

Short memories - it happens every year. But like some bloggers mentioned - there could be other forces at work here like blackmailing the government into providing houses.
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Apr 27, 2012

mambaaai

what about building protection along the river........like levees......... cant be that expensive compared to the lives that stand to be lost.... even the redirection of building rubble deposits etc can helpin the short term
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Apr 30, 2012

Phunyukabemphethe

@Mgodoyi
Spot on bra
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Apr 30, 2012

Budapat

"I've been in this place for too long. I want to be in a place where there is a better life. I want electricity, a flushing toilet and running water," Maluleke says. "The councillors are trying their best. They constantly communicate with us. = Mr Maluleke sir, at times political promises won't materialise so if all you mentioned is what you need, you got to pay for you good life in SOUTH AFRICA. waiting for the govt to deliver will take you another 18yrs on a waiting list, it's a pitty Stjwetla residents have a notorious history with regard to Jukskei river meaning protesting to be moved
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May 4, 2012

Ann

haaai yah ne
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May 4, 2012

Ann

cant u move mr maluleke?, i mean u been there since 1983, surely u must be working u can afford to pay a R500 rent somewhere better..
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