Act of kindness restores dignity for 700 informal settlement residents
The upgraded facility was officially opened on Mandela Day, Saturday, July 18, bringing relief to families who had been forced to use toilets with a leaking, rusted roof for years.
More than 700 residents of the Boxwood Place Informal Settlement are benefiting from newly renovated communal ablution facilities after a local PR councillor and a construction company owner funded much-needed repairs to the neglected structure.
The upgraded facility was officially opened on Mandela Day, Saturday, July 18, bringing relief to families who had been forced to use toilets with a leaking, rusted roof for years.
Democratic Alliance PR councillor for ward 34, Jacques Poupard, said he was shocked by the condition of the ablution block during a visit to the settlement with community leaders.
“The roof sheets were either missing or so badly rusted that whenever it rained, the entire facility became flooded. In my opinion, that is totally wrong and an affront to human dignity,” he said.
ALSO READ: Mandela Day kindness reaches Lawley Station’s elderly
After residents appealed for assistance, Poupard partnered with a friend who owns a building contracting company to finance the project. Professional contractors replaced the roof and gutters, while painters from the local community were employed to repaint the exterior.
Although the renovations have significantly improved the facility, Poupard said work is continuing to persuade the municipality to repair the damaged plumbing inside the building.
Community leader, Buthelezi welcomed the intervention, saying residents had repeatedly requested help from the municipality without success.
“We are incredibly grateful for this assistance. It was something that was highly needed by the residents. We had been pleading with the municipality to repair the facilities for a long time, but nothing had been done. The plumbing still needs attention, but we are grateful that we now have toilets with roofs,” he said.
