• Nomsa Lawu lives in a leaking container split between two families and says the noise from neighbours at night is traumatising for children.

• She says she’s begged people to stop, but they don’t listen, and the City has done nothing for over 20 years.

For more than 20 years, Nomsa Lawu and her family have lived in a metal container in Langa.

It was meant to be a temporary place, for just three months. But nothing changed, and she’s still there today, in a cramped space with thin plywood walls and no toilets, water or electricity.

Now 50, Nomsa lives with five of her family members in a container that’s been split down the middle. Another family lives on the other side, and the walls are so thin, she says her children hear everything.

“The noise is a big problem. The children hear the neighbours having sex at night,” she said.

Nomsa said they’ve had many community meetings asking people to be more respectful, but nothing changes.

“Some people don’t care. They do it anyway, even though they know the kids can hear them. I’ve asked them to stop, but they ignore me.”

She said it’s become normal for kids to repeat what they hear.

“They say, ‘I heard that woman screaming last night.’ It’s not right. This is not how children should grow up.”

Nomsa says the lack of privacy is just one part of a bigger problem.

“There’s no electricity. We buy extensions from other people and pay R300 a month. There are no toilets. No water. We live like we don’t matter.”

She wants the City of Cape Town to move them to proper houses — the ones they were promised in 2002.

“We’ve been waiting for 20 years. The City must fix this. We can’t live like this anymore.”

Councillor Carl Pophaim, who is in charge of human settlements, said the City is aware of the bad conditions and is now working on a plan to improve them.

He said families will soon get upgraded containers with toilets and taps, and better living space.

But for Nomsa, that promise sounds just like the one made 20 years ago.

Pictured above: A container in Langa is divided in half, forcing two families to share space with no privacy. Children often overhear adults through the thin plywood walls.

Image source: Buziwe Nocuze