Monday, February 8, 2016

The Filthy Townships of South Africa



Yes, it is appalling, to say the least, townships in South Africa are filthy. One would imagine that after 21 years of democracy, living conditions of the poor would have improved. Not here, it seems as though life has become so terrible that people have no choice but to live in dirty, overcrowded surroundings. Besides townships spewing out filth all over the place, hostels are another concern that depicts how dirty people have to live.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), Johannesburg mayoral candidate Herman Mashaba, said that he was ashamed to call himself a South African after visiting the Madala Hostel and Alexandra, a township situated near the almost perfect suburb of Sandton. He described the filth, the broken windows, doors, and living conditions as dreadful. Water, electricity, sanitation and pollution all contribute to a health risk for the people who live in townships.

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) have over the last 21 years done absolutely nothing to uplift the poor, yet expect these people to cast a vote for a government who does not care. The gullible people, many unemployed, do receive grants from the ANC and thus appear to be content to carry on voting and at the same time living in these terrible conditions. 

Democracy has brought freedom to most South Africans and an opportunity to rise above the shackles of apartheid yet the living conditions have deteriorated to such a pathetic state and I wonder if people really care. I suppose that not all the blame can be cast on the ANC ruling government, after all, people could take the initiative and clean up after they mess. It appears that people might be too lazy to through papers in the provided dustbins; it is easier to throw it in the streets. People cannot expect others to clean up after they mess, it is unfair. On the other hand, the government could have made provision to house these people in better surroundings and provide proper infrastructure. 
Several suburbs in Johannesburg were reserved for “whites” only during the apartheid years and after the 1994 democratic elections saw the move of many black, colored and Indian families move into these areas. These areas had proper infrastructure, clean and decent but over the years, the deterioration has become so infested with rats, dirt and overcrowding. It is almost as though once decent living quarters have turned into township status. So then, I guess it is the people who prefer to live in these conditions. 




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1 comment:

  1. As a south african i am really disapointed even nigerians do a better job than us

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