I’m very unhappy. And it takes a lot to make me feel this way. Why in 2009 do small rural communities still have such poor socio-economic problems? Why are there no proper hospitals and clinics in places like Makapanstad? And why when a woman is giving birth, is she made to stand in a queue to collect her ticket before she’s allowed to go to the hospital and not given any medication at all?
Yes, I agree, there are previous disadvantaged communities that are better off than they were in the days of apartheid – but is that more the minority than the majority? From what I’ve seen and heard in Makapanstad not much has changed since I first visited almost 20 years ago. Aged 13 and running around barefoot with Emanuel and Charlene, there was no running water then and the situation hasn’t changed. How dignified is it to have 12 women working together – sharing a long-drop. It saddens me to think that we can’t even build them a flushing toilet let alone a bathroom.
When it comes to health issues I know our previous President wasn’t exactly ‘forthcoming’. But then again the ladies did once tell me that they don’t trust an African man who doesn’t have children - it shows he doesn’t know how to look after anyone but himself. At least Mr Zuma with his many wives and children is off to a promising start.
Yes, I agree, there are previous disadvantaged communities that are better off than they were in the days of apartheid – but is that more the minority than the majority? From what I’ve seen and heard in Makapanstad not much has changed since I first visited almost 20 years ago. Aged 13 and running around barefoot with Emanuel and Charlene, there was no running water then and the situation hasn’t changed. How dignified is it to have 12 women working together – sharing a long-drop. It saddens me to think that we can’t even build them a flushing toilet let alone a bathroom.
When it comes to health issues I know our previous President wasn’t exactly ‘forthcoming’. But then again the ladies did once tell me that they don’t trust an African man who doesn’t have children - it shows he doesn’t know how to look after anyone but himself. At least Mr Zuma with his many wives and children is off to a promising start.
There are more people dying everyday in our little community than I dare to think about. What I want to know is why our government is not able to see it? The heartfelt ladies are surrounded by death on a daily basis – and it seems to be brushed off as part of life. They’ve told me that when you get sick in Makapanstad and have to go to the hospital everyone says their goodbyes because nine out of 10 times you won’t make it home.
How tragic. These beautiful people, who have nothing but each other, losing everything! Sadly local governments in rural communities are often corrupt, doctors in local communities are often corrupt, and the result – people like the heartfelt ladies who have no where to turn are suffering.
Over the past year Cecelia has lost her husband and mother. Martha’s neighbour died suddenly. The old man who helped build our workshop lost his wife. Two of Rosemary’s uncles died (in the same week) and we nearly lost Grace. Emanuel died and so did Miriam Martha’s sister. I can’t bare the thought of losing any of the heartfelt ladies to something that could so easily be prevented. And it saddens me even more to see them suffering so much.
There is no reason why rural communities can’t have clean drinking water. Or why the clinics and hospitals can’t save lives. There needs to be a better way. Rural communities need to be heard as well as seen. Often it’s because of their remote location that they are forgotten about. We need to help these innocent families, so that they start to see that (their) life should be taken seriously!
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