What do we get for our vote?

• Published date: 27 April 2024
• Author: Phindile Nqumako
• Publication title: Independent on Saturday

Political party members met the group in a town hall meeting facilitated by Sphamandla Mhlongo from the Democracy Development Programme at the Denis Hurley Centre, on Wednesday

The politicians who presented and tackled questions from the audience were DA MPL Mmabatho Tembe; EFF chairperson Themba Mvubu; IFP eThekwini representative Nothando Mchunu and uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) eThekwini representative Bonginkosi Dlamini.

The ANC was invited but did not participate.

National Homeless Network representative Simphiwe Khoza stressed the importance of homeless people and how they had been forgotten by society, presenting a “manifesto of the homeless”.

“We know that almost none of the political parties contesting the elections on May 29 have included the homeless in any of their manifestos, yet this problem of homeless people is the most obvious social issue in the country. We call upon all parties, government and public to take notice of our manifesto and join us in addressing the critical issue of the homeless,” he said.

“Many do not have an identity document and that prevents them from exercising their right to vote. In some cases their ID has been lost or destroyed in their living conditions.”

Sihle Majola, who is homeless, pleaded with the politicians to help with obtaining IDs for the many people in the audience who had no documentation.

“I want to vote next month but I have no idea what to do. Please guide me on how to get my ID?” he asked.

Thakasani Mabaso said he wanted the government to create jobs for people over the age of 35.

“I have been homeless for almost three years because of problems at home. I want to get a job or be trained by government with skills that will help me get a job. My issue is that most of the entry level jobs offered by government are not for people who are over the age of 35. I am homeless and living on the street with no ID,“ he said.

Nokulunga Ndlovu said she had been homeless since 2021, when she left her home in Nkandla to look for work in eThekwini.

“Life was difficult for me because I needed a job that would feed me, my family and my two children back home. After trying to get a stable job with no luck, I became homeless, until I started living in the shelter near Umgeni Durban Station. There we only eat one meal...