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For Jolene Marriah-Maharaj 
19h ago
Durban: “Before I die, I want my deed in my hands.”
That’s the plea of a 69-year-old Isipingo retiree who has been waiting for years to become a homeowner.
Dharam Ramdayal has been living in a town hall-owned duplex in Lotus Park for 20 years.
He said that he receives a pension of 1,800 rand a month, but that he must pay between 2,400 and 2,600 rand in rent, water and fees to the city council.
“I am left with nothing. Fortunately, my son and daughter-in-law live with me and buy the food. “
Ramdayal, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is asthmatic, also has a caregiver. His wife died two months ago.
“I am dependent on oxygen and I have to pay 1,800 rand for an oxygen tank and that is apart from medication. I have contacted the local ward councilman who has been trying to help, but where do we go from here? I have all the documentation for the title deed, but there are no answers. “
He said that over the years he had spent almost R60,000 to renovate the house.
“The ladder was made of wood and was rotten to the core. I had to install a concrete staircase and the bathroom was leaking. We have to make the place habitable. “
Ramdayal said that he had spent money on a house that did not belong to him or his family. He said he recently read newspaper stories of people receiving title to their homes.
Are we the forgotten people? I am getting older and before I die I want my property title in my hands. Look at my wife, she died and we never had a house that we could call our own. “
He said that as a person suffering from a respiratory illness, he needed a lot of fresh air.
“I need to put a shelter in front of the house so I can sit outside, but I need construction plans to move forward, but without owning the house it is very difficult to get approval”
The eThekwini Municipality was contacted for comment, but did not respond.
* Read more Human Rights Day stories here.
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