Staff reporter
Nestled beside the unforgiving Juskei River, Alexandra’s Riverbank settlement hums with a precarious rhythm. Homes cling precariously to the slopes, each downpour a gamble against nature’s fury. For its residents, like Lucas Moyani, this is not just an address, it’s a battlefield.
Three years ago, driven by dreams of homeownership, Moyani poured his life savings into this precarious haven. Now, with the river a rushing menace at his doorstep, he grapples with a chilling reality. This isn’t the life he envisioned. “Living here is living on borrowed time,” he confides, the weight of unfulfilled promises etched on his face.
The statistics paint a grim picture. Over 800 families call this flood-prone zone home, a stark reminder of South Africa’s housing crisis. According to a 2022 UN-Habitat report, nearly 2.6 million South Africans live in informal settlements, vulnerable to environmental hazards and lacking basic amenities.
For Alexandra’s residents, floods are not a seasonal inconvenience, but a recurring nightmare. Last week’s episode was just another chapter in a familiar saga. Homes were inundated, belongings lost, and the specter of displacement loomed large.
Yet, amidst the devastation, a flicker of resilience remains. Moyani and his neighbors have developed an uncanny dance with the floodwaters. They seek refuge on higher ground, sharing a precarious solidarity forged in the crucible of shared hardship.
Relay Nkwana, a ten-year resident, echoes the sentiment. “Sleep is a luxury during the rainy season,” she says, her voice laced with weary defiance. “We listen for the water’s roar, knowing it could herald another displacement, another broken promise.”
Promises, they are a currency the residents of Riverbank are all too familiar with. For years, the City of Johannesburg has dangled the allure of relocation, a mirage shimmering in the heat of desperation. “They come, they assess, they leave,” laments Nkwana, her voice thick with disillusionment. “But the floods keep coming, and we’re still here, waiting for that better place that never materializes.”
The city, however, maintains its commitment. Goba, spokesperson for the Human Settlement Department, assures of a relocation plan underway, albeit without deadlines or specifics. This lack of tangible progress fuels the residents’ skepticism.
The city faces a complex predicament. Identifying suitable land, securing funding, and ensuring sustainable resettlement are tedious tasks. Yet, as ward councillor Adolphus Marema rightly points out, the solution needs to be multifaceted. Simply moving people without addressing the root causes – unchecked waste dumping, lax regulations, and the allure of cheap housing – risks perpetuating the cycle.
The Jukskei River, Marema warns, is not a benevolent landlord. It is a force of nature, growing angrier by the year. Ignoring its wrath, failing to learn from past mistakes, will only invite further tragedy.
Alexandra’s Riverbank settlement is a microcosm of South Africa’s urban struggle. It’s a story of resilience in the face of adversity, of dashed hopes and unfulfilled promises. It’s a stark reminder that the fight for a safe, dignified home is not just a personal battle, but a national imperative. Until it’s addressed with sincerity and concrete action, the river will continue to rage, and the whispers of discontent will rise above the floodwaters, demanding to be heard.
