Lubhalwe nguRorisang Modiba
UTonique McKenzie, oneminyaka engu-26, wasePitoli wayeka umsebenzi wakhe ngoba wayengenayo imoto futhi wayengenakukwazi ukukhokhela amatekisi ukuya ezindaweni zokubukwa kwezindlu kanye nemihlangano yamakhasimende.
Ngemva kokuqasha, imali yesikole kanye neyokudla engu-R800 ovela kuyise, uMcKenzie usala no-R300 ngenyanga, ngokumelene nobhasikidi wokudla wasePitoli obiza u-R5,502 ngoNhlangulana ka-2026.
UTonique McKenzie ubehamba ngezinyawo eya emsebenzini. Hhayi ngoba wayefuna, kodwa ngoba wayengenayo imoto futhi wayengenakukwazi ukukhokhela itekisi ukuze aye ezindaweni zokubukwa kwezindlu kanye nemihlangano yamakhasimende njenge-ejenti yezindlu. Ekugcineni wayeka ukuya nhlobo.
“Kwadingeka ngihambe ngezinyawo ngiye ezindaweni engangingafinyelela kuzo ngoba ngangingenazo izinto zokuhamba. Kudinga imali ukwenza imali, futhi ngangingenayo,” kusho yena.
UMckenzie, umama oneminyaka engu-26 ubudala wasePitoli, akasebenzi manje. Unendodana eneminyaka emihlanu ubudala kanti usele no-R300 ekupheleni kwenyanga ngayinye. Unina ukhokhela irenti. Uyise wendodana yakhe ukhokhela imali yesikole.
Uyise umnika u-R800 ngenyanga ngokudla. Ngemuva kwakho konke lokho, u-R300 yilokho okusele kukho konke okunye.
“Ngemuva kwakho konke lokho, ngisele no-R300 kuphela ukuze ngiphile inyanga yonke,” esho.
I-Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group ithole ku-Domestic Affordability Index yayo yangoNhlangulana ka-2026 ukuthi ubhasikidi wokudla wasekhaya ojwayelekile ubiza u-R5,502.42 ngenyanga. USibusiso Mboto, uMxhumanisi Wohlelo e-PMEJD, uthe isibonelelo semali yokusekela izingane esingu-R580 sesivele singaphansi kwalokho ingane ekudingayo ukuze idle kahle.
“NgoNhlangulana ka-2026, isilinganiso sezindleko zanyanga zonke zokondla ingane ukudla okunomsoco okuyisisekelo sasingu-R977.52, kodwa isibonelelo semali yesondlo sengane singu-R580 ngenyanga, okuyinto esivele ingekho. Ngokuphikisana nalesi simo, umqondo wokuthi ingane inakekelwe ngesabelomali sika-R300 ufana nohlobo oluthile lokulahlwa, ngoba kusho ukuthi ukufinyelela kokudla okunomsoco esigabeni esibaluleke kakhulu sentuthuko kuyanqatshwa,” kusho uMboto.
Uthe inkinga idlulela ngale kwabantu abangasebenzi.
“Ukuba nomsebenzi, ngisho nokuba yisisebenzi semali noma kwesinye isikhundla sokuqala, akusesona isiqinisekiso sokuthi umndeni ungahlangabezana nezidingo zawo eziyisisekelo. Izindleko zokuphila ezikhuphukayo zisho ukuthi imindeni eminingi esebenzayo isalwela ukubeka ukudla etafuleni,” kusho uMboto.
UMcKenzie akakayeki.
Ufuna ukufundela i- cosmetology futhi avule uhlobo lwakhe lwemikhiqizo yokunakekela isikhumba. Ucabanga nangebhizinisi lokudla, ngenxa yothando lwakhe lokupheka.
“Ngidinga imali yokuqala ibhizinisi, indawo noma inqola yokudla, izinto zokupheka kanye nabantu abakholelwa ephusheni lami. Ngiyazi ukuthi ngingaphumelela uma ngithola ithuba,” kusho yena.
Omama abangasebenzi abanezingane ezincane bangase bafanelekele ukuthola iGrant Wokusekela Izingane yakwa-SASSA. Izicelo zingafakwa kwa-SASSA House, 501 Prodinsa Building, ekhoneni likaSteve Biko noPretorius Street, e-Arcadia, ePitoli. Xhumana ne-SASSA ku-0800 60 10 11 noma ku-012 400 2000.
Imindeni edinga usizo oluphuthumayo lokudla ingaxhumana ne-Tshwane Food Bank ku-278 Brander Street, e-Jan Niemand Park, ePitoli, ku-012 800 2775.
Esithombeni esingenhla: UTonique McKenzie nendodana yakhe ePitoli.
Umthombo wesithombe: Rorisang Modiba