Mrs. Machete from Masakhane informal settlement, which is situated about 1.5 km from Duvha coal power station, near to eMalahleni (Witbank). She believes that the coal impacts on her children’s health.
“Yes, you find black dust coming out and when you try to clear your throat black saliva comes out, which shows that it’s the coal…They don’t tell us anything at the hospital; they just give us medication and say we will get better. But when you try
blowing a child’s nose, or if you as an adult have the flu and try to blow your nose, you will see black mucus on your cloth.”
“I have battled for years to get my house connected to the electricity grid. I had to pay over R15 000 to get my house connected, but now the monthly electricity bills are killing me. Many of my neighbours do not have electricity at all.”