DURBAN - THE Department of Social Development has begun building offices in Impendle Village, outside Pietermaritzburg, for residents who use a run-down wendy house as a waiting room before they are called into the “park home” office.
A resident, who asked not to be named, complained to the Daily News and said the Social Development offices in Impendle Village had been using a shack or run-down wendy house as a waiting room for years.
The resident said the offices were park homes and they were not aware of any intention to build a permanent structure. She said the residents had been complaining about it to no avail.
“We have been neglected for years, but as election day draws closer we know politicians would make empty promises and then go away until the next elections. These offices do not inspire confidence and you just lose hope that social workers would even help you with your problem,” said the resident.
She said the elderly and children were subjected to cold winters and rainy seasons.
“We ask why we must continue voting if our lives are not improving. We ask whether it’s because we are rural people that we are not taken seriously. I do not think you will find a shack as a waiting room in urban areas.”
Social Development spokesperson Mhlaba Memela said the department had noted the concern and acknowledged that residents would be discouraged when they sought help at the offices due to the temporary structure. He said the department was currently working on it.
“The department would like to assure residents that not a single person leaves the offices without being attended to as the department prides itself in providing proper services to communities at all times. We have started building the offices of Impendle. The contractor has been on site since February 11, 2021. The construction of the new offices is set to be completed by June 11, 2022. The construction is in the same area (Gomane) just behind those park homes. It's unfortunate that a person who sent the post opted to ignore that the government is constructing new offices behind the temporary structure,” said Memela.
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Daily News