FOR THE longest time Protea South in Soweto has felt like a forgotten town for many who live there. From the blocked drainage systems that spew out sewage, the lack of street lights, the scary crime rate to the lack of water and many other problems that riddle the area, residents feel that they have been taken for a ride by those in power.
Like Elizabeth Mathebula, popularly known as Mam’Swati, who said she will be switching parties in the local government elections for the first time since 1994 because "I am let down".
Strutting her Al Jama-ah T-shirt during their door-to-door campaign, the 73-year-old spoke passionately about the history of Protea South, way back when "the coloureds used to live here", up until they vacated the area.
"Soon after 'they' left, the area was flooded with shacks and I think that was the beginning of the decline of this area. We are overpopulated and everything is deteriorating within the area," said the energetic lady.
Mathebula says she was a party agent in 1994 and was among those who helped people vote within the area.
“I used to be an active member of the ANC, I was part of the local executive and would distribute meeting papers. I worked for this party, I used to adore the party but I am tired. It did not work for me, but worked for others. I don’t have a house, even though I was among those who applied for an RDP house in 1996.
“I live in a shack with my almost 40-year-old son in a small yard and have nothing to show for many years that I have lived here. He doesn’t work nor does he get employment from the tenders (projects) that come to our area. These councillors only employ their family members and leave us behind, people who have worked long and hard on the ground for the party. It is a mess.
"We now live among rubbish, with no proper running water and have electricity issues almost on a weekly basis. There is no week of peace here. We are ducking criminals who are aided by the lack of street lights, among many issues here,” she said.
The elderly woman said their only clinic had been shut down three weeks ago due to issues of dolomite that plague the area and that could fall on people at any time.
“This clinic was never built to cater for everyone, just children, because it is so small and over time it accommodated those with comorbidities but on a very small scale. We still have to travel to the Chiawelo clinic to get some form of help.
“Unemployment is rife in this area and getting money for transport is a hassle. Our lives don’t matter in this area, we just exist,” she concluded.
Down the street, 88-year-old Rosina Molefe busied herself with sweeping her yard very slowly and carefully, saying she hasn’t had electricity for over six months and yet the house across the road has power.
“They bridge (connect illegally) their electricity while we buy it. I don’t know how my electricity (connection) blew up and I am left in the dark. I have complained countless times to the councillor. I am tired,” she said.
Asked if she would vote tomorrow, she quickly pointed out that, “my vote is my secret” before giggling away.
“I have to vote. That is all I have, even though my vote has brought me nothing over the past years. We just live in hope that things will change,” said the soft-spoken Molefe.
Protea South has a huge problem of drug abuse, so much so that an entire street is dubbed Nyaope Street. Walking down the very long dingy street, one comes across drug addicts who openly inject themselves or sniff up the deadly substance in broad daylight while kids play around them. Women occupy themselves with one thing or the other, while men loiter with nothing to do.
On the other side of Protea, portable toilets were only installed a month ago for residents to share, with the promise of better sanitation if they use their vote wisely, according to mother of three, Sibongile Khumalo.
“All along, we used the long-drop system, imagine 27 years into this so-called democracy,” Khumalo said, as she finished hanging her laundry, preparing to go fetch her youngest child from creche.
“Ai, this place is a mess. We just live here because we have no choice. Even this clinic that has shut down wasn’t as helpful. But beggars can’t be choosers right?” Khumalo asked.
Asked if she will be voting, she said she found herself stuck between a rock and a hard place. “Loyalty versus our reality. The truth is, things are really hard for us here and I am demoralised, not knowing if my vote will change anything. We only got toilets as bait to vote. That is how low our government thinks of us,” she said.