Boipatong residents hope their vote will fix sewage on streets crisis
Boipatong residents in the Vaal say they want their votes to change their living conditions.
In preparation for the election, campaigning has intensified in the Boipatong area of the Emfuleni Municipality, Vaal. The residents of Boipatong are desperate for a change in their lives, as they are plagued by the stench of a decommissioned landfill site and raw sewage flooding their streets and yards. Community leader Reverend Modise Molefe firmly believes that their votes represent a demand for basic human dignity.
He warns against President Ramaphosa's empty election promises, declaring, "My vote is a demand for basic dignity. Our votes are not a trade-off for empty election promises." Molefe urges President Ramaphosa and Minister Manyier to come and spend time with the residents, experiencing the indignity firsthand.
The community members, including Kenny Giba, have been suffering greatly due to the toxic waste. Giba's family has been affected by the foul smell, which has led to his parents' passing and respiratory issues for his sons. He passionately states, "The stench of this toxic waste has been affecting our lives. I have lost both of my parents, the contributory factor is this environmental hazard and then I am suffering from short breath and my sons too are experiencing the same thing.
So, the community at large is suffocating not by choice." The residents of Boipatong hope that by casting their votes, they will finally be able to address these long-standing issues and improve their living conditions.
Written by urgent.news from SABC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
