Frank Maponya
Frank Maponya
Johan Jonker and his common-law wife Edna van Rooyen, both aged 44, represent the ideal of the new South Africa.
Since they moved into their RDP house in Extension 71, outside Polokwane late last year, they have been enjoying life with their African neighbours so much that they feel at home.
"The perception that African people are dangerous is not true," said the couple during a visit by Sowetan yesterday.
Van Rooyen said her family felt very safe.
"If you live in peace and spread peace, you'll always create harmony around you," she said.
The couple moved into house number 14601 on October 31 last year. The relatively new settlement is situated between Polokwane and Seshego Township.
The couple managed to acquire the house because both are unemployed. But it was Van Rooyen who applied for it in 2000.
"I went through the normal procedures. I was on the waiting list for six-and-a-half years," she said excitedly.
Asked where they lived before settling in Polokwane, Van Rooyen said she was born and bred in Pretoria and met Jonker in Lydenburg in Mpumalanga, where he worked as a miner. After Jonker lost his job in 1992, the couple then came to Polokwane job-hunting. They have been squatting around Polokwane until they were allocated their house.
Their neighbour, Johana Moabelo, 73, described them as a wonderful couple.
"I've been teaching them African culture since they arrived," said Moabelo.
She said they ate morogo (wild spinach) and she shares everything with them.
Van Rooyen works as a part-time security guard while Jonker is a self-taught carpenter.
our rdp house is heaven
Frank Maponya
Frank Maponya
Johan Jonker and his common-law wife Edna van Rooyen, both aged 44, represent the ideal of the new South Africa.
Since they moved into their RDP house in Extension 71, outside Polokwane late last year, they have been enjoying life with their African neighbours so much that they feel at home.
"The perception that African people are dangerous is not true," said the couple during a visit by Sowetan yesterday.
Van Rooyen said her family felt very safe.
"If you live in peace and spread peace, you'll always create harmony around you," she said.
The couple moved into house number 14601 on October 31 last year. The relatively new settlement is situated between Polokwane and Seshego Township.
The couple managed to acquire the house because both are unemployed. But it was Van Rooyen who applied for it in 2000.
"I went through the normal procedures. I was on the waiting list for six-and-a-half years," she said excitedly.
Asked where they lived before settling in Polokwane, Van Rooyen said she was born and bred in Pretoria and met Jonker in Lydenburg in Mpumalanga, where he worked as a miner. After Jonker lost his job in 1992, the couple then came to Polokwane job-hunting. They have been squatting around Polokwane until they were allocated their house.
Their neighbour, Johana Moabelo, 73, described them as a wonderful couple.
"I've been teaching them African culture since they arrived," said Moabelo.
She said they ate morogo (wild spinach) and she shares everything with them.
Van Rooyen works as a part-time security guard while Jonker is a self-taught carpenter.