By Mzwandile Bhefile
Lockdown meaningless in KwaLanga informal settlements
Joshua Matshidiso, 68, had both legs amputated due to an infection in 2010. On Monday 30 March, he joined other social grant beneficiaries who rose before sunrise to collect their grants at a nearby retailer pay point in KwaLanga, near Uitenhage.
The SA Social Security Agency (SASSA) had made provision to enable grant beneficiaries to access their funds during the nationwide lockdown to disrupt the spread of Covid-19.
Matshidiso arrived at the KwaLanga cash payout point at 9am and by 11:25am he had collected his grant and bought a few essential items – eggs, milk and mielie meal. He wheeled himself to his RDP house about two kilometres from the SASSA pay point. He says that with the pandemic around he wouldn’t dare risk asking someone to push his chair.
“I am trying to keep myself away from the crowds,” he said. He applauded the services at the SASSA payout point, saying the social distancing rule was observed throughout the process.
But outside, Daily kasi news saw many people queueing with no space between them. Some were waiting for their turn to buy essentials and some waiting to cash out their grants. Preference was being given to the elderly and the disabled.
In Uitenhage CBD, people queued closely together to get their social grants.
Sidney Tshibonza, 40, lives in eMahlabathini informal settlement opposite KwaLanga. He lost the use of both legs in 2016 after an accident at work and also uses a wheelchair. He arrived at SASSA grant payout point and was helped in 30 minutes. After buying essentials he wheeled himself back to his one-room shack.
In KwaLanga and surrounding informal settlements there were few taxis on the road, but when DKTeam visited, the streets were still full of residents.
Small groups of people were sharing a bottle of alcohol and also passing around a cigarette. Alcohol prices have shot up. A 750ml beer, which normally cost R22, was being sold for R35.
In eMahlabathini informal settlement, behind KwaLanga.
When DKTeam asked about Covid-19, some said they did not know what it was, though they had heard about the national lockdown from neighbours.
Here over 1,000 families use one communal tap and there are no toilets, according to community leader Keanetse Lesesa, who was washing her clothes at the tap. On the street.
Joshua Matshidiso, who collected his social grant in Uitenhage CBD on Wednesday, says the lockdown rules were obeyed inside the SASSA paypoint. Photo by Mzwandile Bhefile
Daily Kasi News 