The challenge of living in White Location (“Witlokasie” in Afrikaans) is in the news.

White Location is one of Knysna’s poorest suburbs yet ironically closest to middle class suburbia. Ahead of the 2016 Municipal Elections and on the day the DA’s Mmusi Maimane paid a visit, journalist Tammy Petersen was there to interview residents.

Here’s an extract:

LIFE HASN’T CHANGED

“I’m telling you, this place is exactly the same as it was over 10 years ago, except a couple of houses have been built for a few people. I am still living with the same problems I had in 2006 and nobody cares,” said a resident.

She shares a tap with more than 10 families and the communal toilets are so unpleasant she prefers to use a bucket.

“Life is hard here. While I have a job and am able to provide for my children, I don’t think I will ever be able to move out of here and give them a better life,” the part-time cleaner says.

Every day before sunrise she walks down the main road to town, and huffs and puffs uphill at the end of the day to get back home.

“But I am one of the lucky ones. You will find most of the adults who are of working age sitting outside their shacks during the day because they can’t find work. Where are the jobs we were promised since the start of democracy? I won’t vote for any one of these politicians. None of the commitments they make ever amount to anything.”

Read the much longer article at ‘Knysna’s ‘Dirty Secret’ Hidden from View’.