Township reporter Lenny

We spent the day on Wednesday with another of the people who’ll be reporting the election for the World Service next week. Mncedisi ‘Lenny’ Mkhize is a 56 year old artist and musician living in Joe Slovo, a semi-formal settlement on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth. It was settled in the 90s, and is a mix of wooden shacks and new government-funded houses.

People who live in Joe Slovo, most of them don’t have money, we are a struggling community, most of the people they have nothing, most of the people are uneducated like myself.

I’m living in a wooden shack just now, built by me and my wife, only the two if us. The government has promised new houses, and to get everyone out of shacks by 2014. We have a new cement house next to our shack, but because of corruption and incompetence, that was left by the contractor half done so I had to finish it myself. My son had to put the pipes in so we could have water. I’m scared to move in because of the cracks… I’m scared that my children will suffer with the cold and the draughts this winter. The houses are falling apart, I think most people still prefer their shacks to the new houses we’re getting.

I’m not excited about the elections. I know I have the freedom as a South African that all South Africans have but I totally don’t get anything out of it. The people in government are responsible. If they could practice what they preach… then it’s going to work for me. Don’t make promises then fly away far away from people. Get back there to the people again and say thanks for voting for me into power, thanks for giving me the opportunity to rule, thanks for making me your leader. Don’t run away, promise people you won’t run away.

Listen out next week on the World Today for Lenny Mkhize’s reports about housing, life in Joe Slovo, and how his community feels about the elections. You can see more photos here, and if you’ve got any questions for him, post them here and he’ll respond.