Community members of Matebeleng - a remote village next to the N1 highway en-route to Polokwane say it is only God who can redeem their forgotten and forsaken village which has been without basic services for decades.
Living in hope, Elisa Makalela, Paulina Soolwane and Salome Seku are a few of the women who were born in the Matebeleng village, situated along the N1 south to Polokwane. In all the years that they have lived here, there has been no development for the 50-household village which still has no electricity, roads, transport or proper housing.
The Matebeleng village is situated along the N1 south to Polokwane and is a site you can’t miss with its red clay structure houses. Residents say this is a forgotten village where despite them voting not even the most basic of services has come from the elections.Koketso Shiburi and Thabiso Motaung, a couple, live in the first house as one enters the village. Shiburi was preparing firewood so she could cook their dinner when we arrived.
Thabiso Motaung sits outside his house alongside his girlfriend, Koketso Shiburi, in the Matebeleng village. While he believes some change may come from the elections, Shiburi has given up, saying no change could ever come to the forgotten village,Her boyfriend, Thabiso Motaung, has been living in Matebeleng for over 15 years. Finding a job at a company close by led to him securing a stand here.
On Monday, she joined a group of other community members who had gathered at one of their neighbours’ houses before heading to the polls.“I tried to go and vote this morning because I registered a while ago but I was told my name did not appear on the voters’ roll. I don’t understand how,” she said. “We are voting but we don’t know whether anything will ever come from it. The best thing though is that we are voting for a candidate that we know this time and hopefully they will bring change. What we need most are houses and electricity,” said Makalela.
“We pay another R15 for him to take us back but he won’t agree to take you alone. There has to be a few of you on each trip,” said Shiburi, adding she was grateful for the convenience that came with having his taxi service.
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