FOR Heuningspruit farm dwellers, who live in abject poverty, basic needs such as water and electricity are a luxury that remains a dream.
"Even if you can buy a TV, radio or fridge it will be useless because there is no electricity here," one resident said.
Seventeen years into democracy people here still live under rudimentary conditions, with no hope of proper employment.
Situated outside Kroonstad in Free State, residents complain that they remain economically disadvantaged since most of them live in dilapidated huts with no running water and electricity.
Sowetan visited the area on Friday and found most women collecting reeds from a nearby farm. They said their husbands were working at the nearby Senwes, an agriculture enterprise that offers input supply and market access for farmers.
"This is what we use to make fire, reeds," said Caroline Mtolo. "We cook on open fires here. As you can see, there is no electricity and running water."
Residents collect water from the local police station.
"We have been living like this for 15 years and it does not look like the situation will change any time soon," Mtolo said.
Another challenge is the high number of unemployed youths. Residents blame the lack of a high school for this. There is only one primary school in the area.
"Unless you have enough money to take your child to a high school elsewhere, our children cannot go further in terms of studying," Lydia Moeng said.
She said as a result many locals were forced to be farmworkers at a young age.
There is a high level of crime, particularly copper theft.
But local police commander Superintendent Thenjiwe Mkhumbeni said most of those arrested were not locals.
"Most committed crime is that of cable theft since there are railway lines here. But every time we arrested suspects none of them were a local people. They were from elsewhere, particularly Orange Farm," she said.
Billy Kokami, spokesperson for Moqhaka municipality, said plans were afoot to develop Heuningspruit.
"The new mayor, Jihad Mohapi, has already met residents of the area and has made it his priority to develop that farm.
"We are looking at ways of reducing poverty. It is too high."'
Wretched lives
FOR Heuningspruit farm dwellers, who live in abject poverty, basic needs such as water and electricity are a luxury that remains a dream.
"Even if you can buy a TV, radio or fridge it will be useless because there is no electricity here," one resident said.
Seventeen years into democracy people here still live under rudimentary conditions, with no hope of proper employment.
Situated outside Kroonstad in Free State, residents complain that they remain economically disadvantaged since most of them live in dilapidated huts with no running water and electricity.
Sowetan visited the area on Friday and found most women collecting reeds from a nearby farm. They said their husbands were working at the nearby Senwes, an agriculture enterprise that offers input supply and market access for farmers.
"This is what we use to make fire, reeds," said Caroline Mtolo. "We cook on open fires here. As you can see, there is no electricity and running water."
Residents collect water from the local police station.
"We have been living like this for 15 years and it does not look like the situation will change any time soon," Mtolo said.
Another challenge is the high number of unemployed youths. Residents blame the lack of a high school for this. There is only one primary school in the area.
"Unless you have enough money to take your child to a high school elsewhere, our children cannot go further in terms of studying," Lydia Moeng said.
She said as a result many locals were forced to be farmworkers at a young age.
There is a high level of crime, particularly copper theft.
But local police commander Superintendent Thenjiwe Mkhumbeni said most of those arrested were not locals.
"Most committed crime is that of cable theft since there are railway lines here. But every time we arrested suspects none of them were a local people. They were from elsewhere, particularly Orange Farm," she said.
Billy Kokami, spokesperson for Moqhaka municipality, said plans were afoot to develop Heuningspruit.
"The new mayor, Jihad Mohapi, has already met residents of the area and has made it his priority to develop that farm.
"We are looking at ways of reducing poverty. It is too high."'
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