96 Years of struggle: The life of Phayi
South Africa is a country plagued by a history of injustice and racial prejudice. Many would argue that those problems are still an issue even 31 years since the end of the apartheid regime. However, we cannot deny the overwhelming and lingering affects left by apartheid. One such affected individual is not only the one the South Coasts oldest residents, he is also one of the country’s oldest residents.
Phayi Mlungumhle is a 96-year-old man, who has lived in Masinenge informal settlement since 1955. He tells the story of how a search for better opportunity led him to one of the country’s poorest settlements. “I arrived here in 1955, with the hope of building a better life for me and my family. At that time, I worked for a business called, South Coast Plumbing,” he said. Phayi speaks of the troubles he faced with the apartheid governments forced removal laws, that allowed the government to forcefully remove and relocate black residents out of their homes and to designated areas chosen by the government.
“It was around the 1970’s, and I was caring for my daughter at the time. Some of us would return from work, only to find that our homes had been demolished, and would have no shelter.” As result, Phayi has found himself facing the same struggle 70 years later, not having a home. When asked as to whether he had registered or been put down as recipient of the ongoing government project housing in Masinenge, he explained about how he has applied, but has never received any kind of feedback.
“I was among the first to register for housing, and to this day I have no house or home to call my own,” he said. Sadly, Phayi would not live long enough to see his dream of having a home come true. Two months after speaking to us, his daughter Vivian would confirm his unfortunate passing. The passing of Phayi has affected the Masininge community having lost an elder amongst them. Watch his full story on our website.
