MTHATHA: Eastern Cape – Flood victims relocated to Maiden Farm in the Eastern Cape are spending a bleak Easter holiday, as families report that limited access to water, sanitation, and electricity has stripped away any holiday spirit.
Residents say the hardships are worsening their situation, particularly with children home from school for the Easter break. The temporary residential units, erected by the King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) municipality, currently house approximately 400 households who were moved to the site between September and October 2025 following devastating floods that washed away their homes and displaced over a thousand people.
According to residents, basic services they have demanded from the municipality—including ablution facilities, electricity, and water—remain inadequate. While the municipality did erect ablution facilities and some streetlight poles, electricity inside each unit has not been provided since the relocation.
One resident described dire living conditions, noting that the ablution facilities are now full and have no running water. This has left families, particularly women, without a decent place to relieve themselves. The lack of electricity is also affecting children, who are forced to go to school with unironed clothes. During exam seasons, residents say their children struggle to study properly, with some relying on favors from neighboring communities that do have electricity.
Residents have attempted to reach out to the municipality but report they have not received any response regarding when basic services will be provided. For many, the difficult conditions have made it impossible to celebrate the Easter weekend.