Life is hard for Zweni

Living in a leaky mud house, with wind blowing through and cold air leaks are not the only problems faced by Matshini Zweni (77) from Rhoneni, Bangindlala in Malahleni Municipality, criminals add to his mounting problems.

The lingering sadness is felt when you enter the door of this home where this elderly man lives alone, eating tears and sadness. “I had an argument with my wife, so my children live with their mother in the house I left them at which is nearby, while I built this mud house for myself,” said Zweni.

His floor and walls are made of mud, his zinc roof has holes and you can see the sun rays pierce through as you are seated inside, the entrance gates are like those of an enclosure for goats or sheep.

“I would be happy if I could have a house built in this area, because I am not safe from the cold and from criminals who target me every time I get paid,” he said.

Although he does not know the amount of money he receives, he knows that he receives his SASSA old age grant every month. “One of my children withdraws the money for me and I give them a portion. I buy food and paraffin for myself, I do not have electricity, so I use a paraffin stove,” said Zweni.

He says that his mud house was built after the installation of electricity in the area where he lives in Rhoneni. “When it rains, the water pours in from the roof, then streams out the door and I have to lift my feet. I get water droplets even on the bed where I sleep,” he said.

Experiencing burglary is common to Zweni hence making his life even more bitter.

“As I live in a house without electricity, these criminals wait until there is no electricity in the village and come take whatever they want from the house, they beat me and even strangled me.”

He says that money, his cards, food, and clothes are some of the things that have been stolen by these criminals because of his living condition.

“I was forced to make a second identity card after these guys took my identity card, I also had to make new SASSA cards.”

Although he lives in this pain, Zweni is not a problem to his neighbours, he cooks his own food using the things he has.

Thembakazi Mlungwana is a Zweni’s neighbour. “I remember the break in incident, he cried out that day, it was dark because there was loadshedding. People came out and the burglars had fled,” said Mlungwana.

With the help of the residents of Ward 12 where he lives, he has been visited by the councillor of this ward in an effort to help him find a house.

“The councillor took us to another place in town (Cacadu), we went to apply for housing, which was the last time we attended the matter, we are still waiting with hope,” said Zweni.

Speaking on behalf of the Malahleni Municipality, Kuthando Nqumkana, promised to investigate Zweni’s situation. “I will talk to the councillor from that ward and find out if they know this man, and whether he has a housing application that was submitted,” said Nqumkana.

Due to health reasons last year, Zweni had a tube that collected his urine. “I took it out after I could not go to the hospital. The time came for me to take it out at the hospital, but I had no money so l took it out myself,” he said.

Although he is in this predicament, Zweni’s unique request to the public is to see himself like other people, safe and living a better life.

He is the father of five children, three sons and two daughters.

The right to have access to adequate housing is one of the constitutional rights in South Africa.