Zone 0 has shot up over the weekend, but too many plots are still 'houseless'

(Nolundi and her child, our tour guide for today, 

in a mushroomed neighborhood)

I made another journey to the fire station and Zone 0 today, accompanied by a very friendly student journalist from the Matie newspaper, whose mission was to get video footage for a short video, which they will be releasing soon.

At the fire station we discovered that the fire kits (the aid building material) did not arrive today as was expected… this was a shocker!

It did sound as if the registration process is complete, or very near completion, so I would expect that tomorrow would be a big day in terms of the delivery of the aid.

I was also interested in finding out the details of what happens to those people who do not have fire insurance, which will be a pretty high percentage. I was assured that there is a plan to help, but it does make sense that it is still a little premature to worry about that, as the immediate needs are to get a roof over the heads of those who still does not have one, clothing to all the victims, and blankets.

On arriving at Zone 0 we were greeted by a very friendly lady called Nolundi, and after talking pictures of her with her friends and their children, she became our free of charge tour guide through Zone 0. This helped a lot to get to know what was going on…

Well, the tour was a whirlwind!!

On the ground at Zone 0 we saw nothing short of a human made miracle! I would estimate that about 50% of the houses were up again; 20% still need material to complete the building and 30% are not started yet, because they do not have any building material. This is a rough guestimate.

(new homes that shot up over the weekend)

What worries everyone on the ground, are the following issues:

• Many women, old people and some men, are still without building material. And the rain is threatening…
• The same woman and old people are also without blankets and food. They cannot leave their plots to walk way down to the Strongyard hall for food. And there does not seem to be food points close to Zone 0. Some people do go down to the Strongyard hall to sleep, but most simply do not want to leave their plots until houses are up again.
• Ablution facilities. I did see 4 toilets and they do not flush. They are not enough, and I did not see anyone looking after them (as I understood would be happening; remember the ‘toilet theft’ issue…)
• There are heaps of trash in the streets, and far too little containers to put it in. A skip or two would have made sense. Maybe there are, I didn't see any.
• There is at least an ablution block, but it really is inadequate for the amount of people that should use it. We walked through too many houses before coming across it.

(the 4 water-less toilets close to a huge rubbish heap)

The most pressing issue is the ‘fire kits’, the blankets and food at the shacks for those who’s houses are not yet standing.

I have made a solemn promise to all the people I spoke to, that I would return on Wednesday 20 March, to follow up on the ‘fire kits’ and the blankets issues, and I also promised to make some tough 'phone calls' if this had not happened by then.

Below are some photos of people without building material, and an incomplete (but community vetted) list of names and plot numbers of people requiring building material, and/or blankets and clothing.

I assume the official registered list will contain this information in far greater detail and completeness… but, just about all these people voluntary gave me their mobile phone numbers, so I do aim to verify that they got their aid. Let’s call this a ‘concerned citizen delivery assurance audit’ list:

Lulekiwe Ngesi	0.183.A
Nomeikayise Mnari	0.233
Nomganga Pricia	0.136A
Nwabisa Khali	0.258
Lindiwe Mpini	0.196.A
Sakhe Quetsu	0.221.C
Sylvia Boysoza	0.179.A
Thuliswa Mini	0181
Nogawa Megazi	0115
Bassitret	097B
Mabarwana	P02159
Thembela Magazi	0115
Noluvo Mphothulo	0116
Siyanda Holoti	0106
Nesikazi Botozo	0129
Nolusindiso Nzuzo	0112
Ntombozi Mahlikinla	022
Mzukisi Galado	0118
Vuyani Zekani	0292
Khanyile Nkebethwana	096C
Phatheke Tokhwe	0154
Puseleiso Selai	0135C
Xoliswa Sileyo	0112D
Sidiayiya Momosadi	097A
Qavane Nomtha	0105
Nkalitshana Siyabonga	0112B
Xolile Lamani	0214A
MPateni Ndileka	068
Zukolwetu Khedema	068
MVeyile Tshekelwayo	0220C
Nkosikho Lomani	0234
Vuyisile Siswana	0117
Fuzeka Tyhalisi	0118
Vusumzi Mbembe	0112C
Pusumo Mpotulo	0116A
Nomvimbi Mini	0121
Thembelani Mpateni	068A
Nozkule Mkhahlu	0177A
Nompumzo Dlongwana	0114
Thuliswa Magagu	0.111
Thandiwe Nompowelo	0132B
Nonkohiseko Mpathweni	0220A
Nompulelo Gumede	0123
Bulelwa Mthi	0217A
Mthuthuzeli Zekani	0292A
Nqwenelwa Tswetu	0120
DeBuseng Mapane	047C
Thembelani Mpatheni	068A
Zintle Mondle	0114A
Sandise Mhlawuli	0154
Nosibhozo Mhlawuli	0154A
Nosisi Gqongqtathwane	0134A
Nosipho Mhombi	0122A
Azola Booyi	0134B
Xolani Nompondo	0132C
Mandeka Mnyanda	0166
Thembakazi Mthetho	0213
Ester Ntoyaphi	0148A
Nobubele Ntoyaphi	0110
Mondi Nkosibonile	0114A
Khululekile Tofile	0110
Abongile Jezile	0166A
Nontuthuzelo Mlunguza	0136A
Ndlusindiso Nduda	0.128B
Asanda Timothy	0338
Bonga Ncokazi	0.194D
Kwanele Dangqzele	01949
Mthunzi Sotashe	0.94B
Nofirst Mtshotana	0.148B
Patrik Dangazele	0.194C