Bizana Grandmother: I Vote, But No One Comes

For more than two decades, 51-year-old Mrs Mhlantla has been fighting a silent battle against poverty, surviving without stable employment or consistent government assistance since 2000.

Living in Nyaka Village, Ward 18, under the Winnie Madikizela Mandela Local Municipality in Bizana, Mrs Mhlantla shares a one-room structure with five grandchildren and three of her children. The entire household depends largely on her R370 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, while the grandchildren receive foster care grants following the death of their mother in 2025.

Despite this limited support, the family continues to struggle. Mrs Mhlantla says she often travels for more than eight hours to nearby forests to collect firewood, which she later sells to earn a small income. The physical toll is heavy, but she says she has no other choice.

“We live in one room and do everything here. When it rains, the roof leaks because it is not in good condition,” she explained.

According to her, the family has not benefited from an RDP house, as she does not yet qualify. She claims she was informed that eligibility is linked to receiving an old-age grant, something she does not receive.

The hardship extends to her grandchildren’s schooling. She says they no longer carry proper lunchboxes, often taking dry pap to school, where they face discrimination from other learners.

“Every time there are elections, I vote, but no government official has ever come to see how we live,” she added.

Her eldest daughter Zoleka expressed frustration, saying the family feels forgotten despite consistently participating in the democratic process.

The local municipality was not available for comment at the time of publication.