Katlego Moeng

Katlego Moeng

Sakhile Ndlovu and her sister Sicelo are overjoyed with the news that they will soon move from the overcrowded Central Methodist Church.

When we told them that the Gauteng government has identified five buildings in the city, they said they could not wait for the move because it means better accommodation for them and their babies.

Sakhile has been at that church, in Johannesburg city centre, for just more than six months now. Her baby, Sbongile is two months old.

"It is not easy for me and my baby to share a space with thousands of other men and women. We are looking forward to decent accommodation and we will be so grateful if it comes," said the Ndlovu sisters.

While Sakhile complained about insufficient food for herself and her baby, her sister Sicelo said she just wanted a quieter, cleaner place for her five-month-old son, Themba.

She promised to cooperate with Home Affairs and other officials with all required processes.

Rita Phiri said she would be "most thankful to be helped by the government".

She has a three-year-old bubbly and playful daughter. The little girl, who looks too small for her age, seemed oblivious to her circumstances, giggling and playing in front of the Johannesburg high court.

"It is difficult for me and my baby to sleep in the same room with hundreds of grown men," she said, and added as an aside that "my baby and I have had nothing to eat today".