Fiery Avenue
‘People can’t take more promises’
A woman crosses a road in Ennerdale, south of Johannesburg, where residents protested, demanding houses. They barricaded James Road with burning tyres, rocks and other debris.
Fresh protests over houses broke out in Ennerdale yesterday where a foreign-owned spaza shop was looted during clashes with police.
Residents are demanding that the government fulfil promises made years ago.
Yesterday’s protests follow similar ones in Eldorado Park on Monday.
Valerie Moses, a member of the Ennerdale Stakeholder Association, said promises have been made to them since 2013.
“[Paul] Mashatile promised that he will make a plan. Every time they come back to us with a different story...” said Moses.
Moses added that Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba promised to build 740 houses of the 10000 that the residents need.
A 38-year-old man Vernon Smith said he was also frustrated. “I want a house, that is why I am protesting, it’s 12 of us in one house,” said Smith.
“I sleep with my kids in the lounge. The others sleep on the floor.
“For bathing, some [children] wash at night [and] some in the morning,” said Smith.
Another resident, Martha Pitt, said she had been living in Ennerdale for 30 years without improvements in the area
Thami ka Plaatjie, the adviser of Minister of Human Settlements Lindiwe Sisulu, visited the area but declined to address the protesters.
“What is coming across is that people are despondent... there have been many politicians that have come to make promises. We need to get more information because people cannot take promises anymore,” he said.
Police spokesman Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said the situation was tense but the crowd had started dispersing.