Some 300 people have been living in shipping containers for 10 years
By Mosa Damane for GroundUp
“They left us stranded in containers that were supposed to be a temporary place for us to stay in 2010 and now it is 2020 and we are still waiting [for our houses],” says Lindiwe Malinga, a resident from Dube hostel, Soweto.
Green shipping containers are lined up in neat rows mixed with shacks, home to some 300 people after their original two-room units were demolished to make way for new homes. Just across the road are the duplexes and units they were meant to move into, but these were never allocated.
![back link building services=0></a></div><blockquote class=wp-block-quote><p>“Every year there are promises,” says Malinga.</p></blockquote><p>In the meantime the houses have been stripped by vandals and thieves and are beyond repair.</p><blockquote class=wp-block-quote><p>“There are no rooftops and wires; windows, taps, and doors were stolen from the new units. I do not understand why they moved us here and demolished our homes,” says Mkhulu Sikhakhane.</p></blockquote><blockquote class=wp-block-quote><p>“I was excited to see construction sites [in 2010],” she says. “And I had hoped that I will finally have my own place. But here I am ageing and still waiting for my house.”</p></blockquote><p>The containers are one long room, which some have divided up with curtains into a kitchen, bedroom, and sitting and dining room.</p><h2>‘MY MOTHER PASSED ON WHILE WAITING FOR OUR NEW HOUSE’ – MTSHALI</h2><p>Mbali Mtshali says residents use the bush as a toilet because the communal toilets are filthy and smell unbearably. “Two weeks ago they sent new toilets, but they are starting to rot because of the number of people using them,” she said.</p><div class='code-block code-block-5' style='margin: 8px 0; clear: both;'> <a href=https://www.adhang.com/guest-posting-services/ ><img class=lazy src=](https://i.ibb.co/8Npwyfv/Linkbuilding-336x280.jpg)
