Challenges faced in Walmer township.
Written by Zola Moses
My name is Zola Moses, and I bring you a story highlighting the challenges faced by black communities on the outskirts of Walmer township.
Large numbers of people are forced, because of social challenges, to live together in small spaces sharing almost everything including outside toilets that are still part of the bucket system. As a result, many people get sick because of the challenging and unsanitary living conditions. Infections are recorded on a daily basis. A lot of people suffer under the yoke of poverty. For some it so bad that they can’t even afford a meal for the day. Fortunate families, are the ones with males, who can afford to wake up early in the morning looking for casual jobs in the neighbouring suburb or bussinesses. Domestic life is unbearable and often leads violence in the home due to lifestyle pressure.
Most of the families are fatherless due to a number of contributing factors. Some families are headed up by children. This is often due to parents having to leave town and looking for work in other cities. Some parents have passed away because of illnesses. Some are headed up by grannies. In child- and granny-headed homes, life is even worse as children and grannies will be forced to live off old age or child support grants, which is not enough to take care of one family member for a month. But worse, is that some do not even receive grants in these families because they don't have identity documents to apply for it. In most of the child- or granny-headed homes, children are not even attending school because they assume responsibilities that adults would have taken care of. Food becomes a luxury they cannot afford. Only the marginally few can afford food.
But they survive because of the principle that teaches all our people to be your neighbours keeper. "Umntu ngumntu ngabantu" meaning "You are because we are". This teaches people that you cannot succeed on your own, but you need others in order to succeed in life. This might not be a reality in the suburbs but it is an integral part of the way of life for people in the poor areas. Below is a story of a young leader who has worked for years to ensure that the same ethics and principles are kept alive in their township.
My name is Nkosivumile Eric Ntukela. I live in Walmer township at AQ 31 Phelakhulu street. I live with my wife Nomthunzi Ntukela, and my three kids Khanya Booi, Ambesa Ntukela, Iyabona Ntukela and we are not working at the moment. As a community leader in my area something something stirs inside me when I look at my community and see people struggling. Some of them don’t have husbands and fathers in their homes. In other homes there are no parents to take care of the children and they don’t have an income. So I am trying to get some help for us in our area. Especially for those who are finding it very difficult specifically in this challenging time that we are facing now. Thank you and God bless.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope that this helps you to gain insight into what people in our city, in areas right next to us are facing. As followers of Christ, as children of God - we can’t help but have the same character that God has. As a result, because we share His heart for everyone, we can’t be ok with this; can we?
Large numbers of people are forced, because of social challenges, to live together in small spaces sharing almost everything including outside toilets that are still part of the bucket system. As a result, many people get sick because of the challenging and unsanitary living conditions. Infections are recorded on a daily basis. A lot of people suffer under the yoke of poverty. For some it so bad that they can’t even afford a meal for the day. Fortunate families, are the ones with males, who can afford to wake up early in the morning looking for casual jobs in the neighbouring suburb or bussinesses. Domestic life is unbearable and often leads violence in the home due to lifestyle pressure.
Most of the families are fatherless due to a number of contributing factors. Some families are headed up by children. This is often due to parents having to leave town and looking for work in other cities. Some parents have passed away because of illnesses. Some are headed up by grannies. In child- and granny-headed homes, life is even worse as children and grannies will be forced to live off old age or child support grants, which is not enough to take care of one family member for a month. But worse, is that some do not even receive grants in these families because they don't have identity documents to apply for it. In most of the child- or granny-headed homes, children are not even attending school because they assume responsibilities that adults would have taken care of. Food becomes a luxury they cannot afford. Only the marginally few can afford food.
But they survive because of the principle that teaches all our people to be your neighbours keeper. "Umntu ngumntu ngabantu" meaning "You are because we are". This teaches people that you cannot succeed on your own, but you need others in order to succeed in life. This might not be a reality in the suburbs but it is an integral part of the way of life for people in the poor areas. Below is a story of a young leader who has worked for years to ensure that the same ethics and principles are kept alive in their township.
My name is Nkosivumile Eric Ntukela. I live in Walmer township at AQ 31 Phelakhulu street. I live with my wife Nomthunzi Ntukela, and my three kids Khanya Booi, Ambesa Ntukela, Iyabona Ntukela and we are not working at the moment. As a community leader in my area something something stirs inside me when I look at my community and see people struggling. Some of them don’t have husbands and fathers in their homes. In other homes there are no parents to take care of the children and they don’t have an income. So I am trying to get some help for us in our area. Especially for those who are finding it very difficult specifically in this challenging time that we are facing now. Thank you and God bless.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope that this helps you to gain insight into what people in our city, in areas right next to us are facing. As followers of Christ, as children of God - we can’t help but have the same character that God has. As a result, because we share His heart for everyone, we can’t be ok with this; can we?
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