Mozambicans in Alexandra, Johannesburg rebuild homes without support

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Mozambicans in Alexandra, Johannesburg rebuild homes without support

4:16 CAT | 07 Mar 2017

Voa / A street in Alexandra

Mozambicans living in Johannesburg’s Alexandra township are rebuilding their flood-stricken homes without South African government help.

President Jacob Zuma promised support when he visited the area soon after the floods in November 2016, but so far nothing has reached the 100 or so people, including Mozambicans, who lost almost everything.

Many South Africans declined to be interviewed, claiming that talking to journalists was no solution to their suffering because the problems in downtown Alexandra were endemic, and that politicians always promised to solve them, but after winning elections they forget.

In November last year, torrential rains filled the Jukskei River in the low-lying part of the Alexandra township, north of Johannesburg. The river burst its banks, killing three people, including a child, and destroyed numerous shacks.

Sanitation in Alexandra is rudimentary, with residents sharing mobile latrines provided by the municipality, but despite this, Mozambican living there say they will only return to Mozambique in case of illness because there are no jobs.

In South Africa, 27 out of every 100 young people are unemployed.

Vusi Filipe says that South Africans are lazy and expect the government to give them everything.

Consumption of alcoholic beverages seems to be the main leisure activity in Alexandra, reads the Voa report.

Source: Voa Portugues