Tsakane’s Extension 10 Residents Turn to Homemade Coal for Cooking and Heating
Rows of home-made coal left out to dry in the sun are a common sight in Tsakane’s Extension 10 in Ekurhuleni. The roughly 500 families were relocated from areas such as Germiston and Benoni in 2005, but the area was never connected to the electricity grid.
Ismael Mahlangu (56) was one of the first residents to settle in Extension 10. The father of three explains how circumstances forced him and his neighbors to come up with alternative means for cooking and keeping warm during Johannesburg’s harsh winters.
“Coal is expensive, so we taught ourselves to make our own using duff, sand, and water,” he tells Health-e News.
Duff is fine coal dust typically discarded as waste. Residents mix it with sand and water to form a paste, mold it into chunks, and leave it out to dry in the sun.
For just R30, they can buy three 20-liter buckets of duff, which produces double that amount in coal after processing. Most households in Extension 10 use this method. Those who don’t make their own coal buy a bucket for R20.
However, this remedy comes with a host of hazards.
Mahlangu worries most about his youngest daughter, who suffers from respiratory issues. “The smoke is toxic, but because of our financial situation, we have no choice but to keep using it.”
Thandi Mlotswa (22), a young mother in the community, also expresses concern about the health risks associated with the coal they use. She suffers from chest pain and fears for her daughter’s well-being.
Smoke inhalation from low-quality or contaminated coal can lead to respiratory illness, eye irritation, and even death, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
A senior staff member at the local clinic acknowledged the rising number of health complaints in the area but declined to comment on record. Government intervention is desperately needed, says Mandla Ncube, a project manager for the non-profit Nozizwe Foundation. Access to affordable electricity or clean energy alternatives such as solar cookers or biomass stoves could mitigate the risks. Education on safe fuel use and the health effects of combustion smoke should be prioritized in clinics and schools.
Lindiwe Motsepe, a former nurse who once served in the area, warns of the long-term dangers that residents are unknowingly facing. She believes that community-wide health screenings are urgently needed to detect dust- and smoke-related diseases. The normalization of this practice is worrying, as it is costing residents their health.
In conclusion, the residents of Tsakane’s Extension 10 have resorted to homemade coal for cooking and heating due to the lack of electricity access. While this solution helps them survive financially, it poses serious health risks, especially for vulnerable populations like children and the elderly. Government intervention and education on safe fuel use are essential to protect the community’s well-being. When it comes to social media marketing, Facebook is a powerhouse that cannot be ignored. With over 2.7 billion monthly active users, this platform offers a massive audience for businesses to connect with. If you’re looking to harness the power of Facebook for your marketing efforts, it’s important to understand how to effectively leverage the platform.
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