‘I Applied at 49, Now I’m 78’: Thembisa Woman’s 30-Year Wait for an RDP House

Concilia Chiliza thought renting a backroom in Thembisa would be temporary.

That was in 1996. She was 49.

Today, she is 78. She still lives in that same backroom.

The Wait

Chiliza applied for an RDP house two years after South Africa’s first democratic elections.

She lost her job and had to leave her employer’s house to find a place in the township. The backroom was meant to be a stopgap.

“Since then, I have been visiting the Alberton office to complain about my missing house. They were always telling me that my house had been approved and built, but they did not tell me the exact location.”

“They advised me to apply again for the new house, but nothing happened until today.”

The Pain

Chiliza has watched others on the waiting list move into their homes.

“The people that I applied for the house with are all house owners and they are surprised that I still don’t have a house. It is painful to wait for an RDP house my whole life and watch others moving into their homes.”

Her children have grown up. They rent rooms in the same yard. Her son’s girlfriend comes to help with chores.

The Politics

Chiliza has voted for the ANC since 1994. She has lost hope.

“The ANC has been the same since it took over the country. Since I am unable to walk, during the elections the party’s members come and give me a lift to the voting station and bring me backas if they care.”

The Health

Chiliza suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure, and other diseases.

Her fridge is broken. Her diabetes medication is supposed to be kept cold. She keeps it in a bucket.

The Response

Community leader Tebogo Masenya said it was disappointing to hear of Chiliza’s three-decade wait.

“If need be, we will also open a criminal case so that those who stole her house can be arrested and tell us where the house is.”

Khathutshelo Rasilingwane, DA Thembisa North constituency head, called on the provincial government to urgently expedite housing delivery.

“Residents of Gauteng are frustrated and tired of empty promises to address the housing waiting list. What they need are houses, delivered without further delay and excuses.”

The City of Ekurhuleni did not respond to questions.

The Bottom Line

Thirty years. From 49 to 78. From hopeful applicant to elderly pensioner. From a working fridge to a bucket.

Concilia Chiliza has been waiting her whole life for a house. She’s still waiting.

And every election year, the party members come to give her a liftas if they care.

{Source: Citizen}

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