PMB informal settlement residents running low on food

PMB informal settlement residents running low on food

Residents of an informal settlement in Pietermaritzburg say while they fully support government's measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus - the lockdown's taking a toll on their pockets. 

PMB informal settlement residents running low on food
Lauren Beukes

It's now day 22 of the total lockdown -- South Africa has 13 days to go. 


KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala and other MECs paid a visit to the Jika Joe informal settlement on Thursday and kicked off the province-wide screening and testing campaign. 


Healthcare volunteers went door-to-door screening residents, while others were sent to nurses for testing at mobile clinics. 


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Thembela Xuba - a trolley pusher - says he tries to follow the regulations. 


But he's running out of food. 


"If this lockdown continues, it's going to kill us. We are hungry. We don't have jobs, and government doesn't give up food parcels.  Since the lockdown has started, we haven't received anything."


Zandile Msomi says social distancing is difficult for those living in a settlement. 


"Everyone comes to the tap to fetch water. The tap is in front of my door. There is no social distancing here."

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