In the shadow of the Marlboro Gautrain station, in the heart of one of South Africa’s most affluent regions, the cardboard and hardwood shacks of Setswetla informal settlement stand in stark contrast to the mansions of its neighboring suburb of Sandton.
Situated on the banks of the Jukskei River, the informal settlement is a boiling pot of cultures, ethnicities and nationalities. Community leader Brian Mahlangu spoke to SABC News about life in Setswetla since the dawn of the democracy.
Mahlangu grew up in Mokopane, Limpopo with aspirations to be a radio presenter, however that dream was halted, Mahlangu now makes bricks for a living.
“I make bricks which people from around Setswetla come and buy and then go and build their houses. And most of the people who stay here are working construction. We are facing many challenges. I used to say we are a forgotten community. Forgotten by the same government we have elected. Because they come to us and say vote for us, we’ll give you houses, we’ll give you water, we’ll give you electricity. Your children will have better schools. But here in Setswetla we don’t have even one school,” says Mahlangu.
