People who President Jacob Zuma and ANC Youth League (ANCYL) president Julius Malema promised to assist months ago say they are still waiting for delivery.
Zuma’s spokesman, Zizi Kodwa, said this week they had every intention to deliver on promises, while getting an answer from the ANCYL proved difficult.
During his visit to Struisbaai in July, Zuma heard how fisherman Sias Mathinus’s disabled son and niece had to make do with broken wheelchairs, how the Marthinus home was too small and how they struggled with transport. Zuma promised the family two wheelchairs, a car and assistance with house renovations.
It was days before an Overberg by-election and about 500 people who came to see Zuma cheered when he announced his promises. They also applauded when told he had “adopted” the local primary school.
Marthinus said: “We are still waiting. I’ve heard not a word since that day. I don’t know why nothing has happened yet, but as a family we are still the same. I can’t lie, but I am disappointed. Josias and Sahida (his disabled relatives) are still in those old wheelchairs. We’ll strive on.”
Struisbaai Primary School principal, Myna de Villiers said that she too still waited for feedback on Zuma’s promise to help the school with its sports facilities. An e-mail reminder to Zuma’s office was acknowledged, De Villiers said.
“I’m sure the president is very busy. I wrote to explain what he said he would do and I also submitted quotations ... This is a poor fishing community and we need all the help we can get. I’d really like to hear something definite before the school closes for the year,” she said.
Kodwa said: “The president is fully committed to fulfil his promise he made ... We’re still finalising the details and logistics to facilitate the smooth implementation of his commitment.”
Meanwhile, in Heinz Park near Philippi, Rosie Claasen, who headed the Sinethemba Home for orphaned and abandoned children, said she had heard nothing further about a donation Malema promised the home almost a year ago. In December 2009, Malema, his deputy, Andile Lungisa, and SA Social Security Agency officials handed out food parcels to the poor in Heinz Park. Malema also pledged R100 000 to the home.
The matter is no longer an issue for her and she did not want to be bothered, she said.
“Nobody came back to say what is happening. There is nothing, but I’m content. I’m leaving everything in God’s hands. To make a promise and not keep it is not a nice thing ... I just want to continue working for my community,” she said.
ANCYL spokesman Floyd Shivambu has neither responded to e-mails nor several SMSs and voice-mails left for him for over a week. On October 25, he denied news reports that the league failed to honour its promises of financial assistance to various causes.