Christmas came early to the community of 50 hectares informal settlement outside Upington in the ZF Mgcawu District in Northern Cape. This was when they were paid a visit by the Provincial Executive Council which intended to gain a firsthand experience of their living conditions. The executive council which allocated a number of households to each department for relieve was led by Premier Sylvia Lucas. They donated gifts including food parcels, blankets and clothing.
It was an unusual day for 50 hectares community as the small settlement was swamped by big cars and lots of government officials. Officials led by their principals went from house to house in a bid to bring some relieve to the communality.
Head of Department for Sport, Arts and Culture Ms. Ruth Palm led her officials to 20 households where they donated food packs, blankets and clothing. Officials together with the Head of Department Ms Ruth Palm, the Chief Director for Programms and Service Delivery Mr. David Mdutyana as well as Head of Ministry Mr. Eric Gaborone rolled up their sleeves to hand out the goods.
Shack dwellers of the 50 hectares would normally have no idea where their next meal is to come from. The deed done by the department did not go unnoticed, as a few community members were filled with emotions when they were handed food parcels. Many community members in the small town are unemployed and depend on government social grants for survival. The community lives under inhumane conditions without proper sanitation, electricity and running water with some using solar panels for lights. Many if not all community members relieve themselves nearby bushes, said one resident.
One family within the community consists of a young couple with three children. The couple was overwhelmed by government gesture towards them. They stated that they cannot afford to feed their children as the father does not have a stable income. The young mother expressed her gratitude “This serves as hope for us, we haven’t eaten for days, now I can prepare something for my five month old baby”.
Community members could not contain themselves, as they skimmed through the plastic bag filled with clothes and school uniform. One elderly gentleman expressed that, “This is the only suit I’ve owned in my entire life”. A little truly, does go a long way.