South Africa: Nkandla Lakos Rally to improve urban toilets

Chris Gilili

"We will not vote next year, we have no reason to vote."

The population Nkandla took an informal settlement in East London to improve and clean the shared toilets. They claim that the municipality has neglected the toilets since they were deployed in 2014 in the same year that the settlement was established.

When GroundUp visited the area on Monday, we reported 23 toilets, 19 of which were blocked.

"This whole area uses only four toilets today, and they do not even work most of the time," said Simon Tshambuluka, who was among the first to reach Nkandla.

He said the settlement had no street light or electrification. "At the beginning of this year we buried our neighbors who were captured by a live wire, while re-connecting illegal electricity (izinyoka) … We are still using the output because we need strength."

"At night the villains pretend they are, because there is no light, people are murdered, imprisoned and raped." said Tshambuluka.

"The counselor has promised, but never got out," he said.

That is why residents have decided to raise money for the repair and cleaning of toilets. "After the toilet was installed, I volunteered to clean them because nobody was prepared for it. Every household will contribute to the R20 if it's done, we'll take the material and fix the toilets."

Amanda Ntozonke resident said, "It is painful because sewerage is a human right, but the local government [ignoring] it. We use the bush at night, because the four toilets we depend on are always full. come [elections in] In 2019, they will remember that we exist and we want to vote. This is the only time we are relevant to ANC, "he said.

"We have a painful life here … people are tired and we will not vote in Nkandla next year, we have no reason to vote."

The Mendi Wetsetse Presidential Advisor promised to return to GroundUp but had missed calls Monday and did not reply to email. The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality Communication Office did not respond to questions on Monday, October 22nd. Further trials have proved ineffective.