By: Ziningi Dlamini

The harsh weather over the weekend left the Isipingo Transit Camp flooded.

More than 750 families were left stranded following the heavy rains.

The Isipingo Transit Camp shelters people who were moved from all over Durban but mostly those who used to live at Umlazi D section.

These residents were moved by the municipality from their home to this camp because of the mall that was to be built, and were promised to be provided with houses since 2009.

“Even animals live better than us. It’s better to die than being treated like this.

Nobody cares about the conditions we living under even the councillor is doing nothing to help us,” said resident Sipho Zuma.

Local residents are now said to be suffering from Tuberculosis caused by the damp area since their camps were built where there used to be a dam.

There is also a dumping site where trucks carrying waste come to discharge.

“My wife and I both suffers from TB but for her its worse she has diabetes also, every time it rains small fountains floods into our house, this stinks” said resident Thabo Mkhize.

Nokuthula Makhanya, camp councillor said that they have acquired land to build RDP houses for the people but not all of them will be accommodated.

“We are still searching for more land where we can build those houses,” said Makhanya.

Senzo Mbatha the chairperson of this camp said that he has lost hope that the situation will ever get better since the councillor seems to be dragging feet.

“The councillor abandoned us, she leaves comfortable with her family, then what about us, we can’t even get respect from our children because we bath in front of them in these one
roomed cardboard slams,” said Mbatha.