‘Don’t act like sangomas’
SOL PLAATJE executive mayor Mangaliso Matika has warned protesters “not to act like sangomas”, with residents of Bobo se Plaas informal settlement threatening to invade land at the Lerato Park housing development.
A long stretch of Barkly Road was strewn with rocks, branches and burning tyres yesterday morning, from around 5am, with residents demanding that they be given permanent sites and houses.
Over 200 community members intend erecting shacks on the site of the formal housing project and claim plots of land while they wait for houses to be built.
They also threatened to disrupt the Sol Plaatje Municipality’s 25-year awards ceremony that will be held today should their demands not be met.
Many people were unable to catch taxis to work yesterday as the roads were closed to passing traffic, while businesses complained they were unable to operate due to the disruptions.
Former ward councillor Dennis Pienaar indicated that the community’s patience was wearing thin, as they had been waiting for years for houses.
“Some of the people have been approved on the housing list, others haven’t. Requests to move to the permanent sites started in 2006.”
He stated that the community wanted permission to move their shanties to the formal housing site.
“The municipality can provide water and electricity for the shacks so long. It will be beneficial for the municipality as it can claim revenue in terms of rates and taxes. The plots will be occupied until the houses are built. The feeling on the ground is that if no permission is given, the land will be invaded.”
Pienaar added that the community had decided to barricade the road for the second time this week as he says it has become clear to them that they are being ignored.
“The Speaker accepted our memorandum of grievances on Monday and we have yet to receive any responses. Meetings scheduled to resolve the housing crisis were postponed three times this week, without reason.
“The municipality informed us that charges would be brought against us for making our grievances known. We welcome these charges.”
He added that the construction of houses was progressing at a snail’s pace and that the beneficiary lists were prone to tampering.
“Too many problems are being experienced with the allocation and relocation process.”
Matika, who arrived with a contingent of municipal security guards yesterday, promised to hold a community meeting on Sunday at 3pm where he would address their issues, including the road project, the housing problems and the community liaison officer.
“The former ward councillor and the current ward councillor must not play lotto with the feelings of the people. They are both ANC members,” said Matika.
He urged the community to open the road and explained that he was not able to provide any answers yesterday, as he needed to attend a council meeting at 10am.
“I am here and the police are here so that we do not act like sangomas.”
The community members vented their anger over the “empty promises”, saying that they were used and discarded once they had voted in the elections.
“We are taking the action needed to attract the necessary attention.”