Ward 95 shack dwellers in Makhaza have threatened to make the city ungovernable if the municipality fails to respond to their grievances.
This follows a protest on Friday 15 August when disgruntled residents barricaded the corner of Baden Powell Drive and Japhta K Masemola Road with burning tyres and stones demanding service delivery.
The irate Mpolweni and Thembeni residents called on the City to speed up the process of installing electricity in their areas.
A resident, who identified herself as Thabisa, accused the City of playing party politics by prolonging the process. She claimed they had several meetings with both Eskom and the City regarding the matter.
“Eskom doesn’t have a problem installing the electricity here, but they cannot go ahead without the City’s approval because the land belongs to the City,” she claimed, adding that the City has already identified the areas that are going to be supplied with electricity. However, she said she did not know why it took so long.
Thabisa accused the City of playing “hide and seek” to frustrate residents.
She vowed that they won’t stop protesting until the City addresses their concerns.
“Toyitoyi is the only language that gets the attention of our government. We tried to be nice to the government officials, but they chose to ignore us. We’ve been engaging with them since last year, but they chose not to listen. We are not going back now,” said Thabisa.
Ward 95 councillor Andile Tetani reiterated Thabisa’s sentiments. He said that they engaged the City and Eskom.
However, he stated that according to the City’s assessment, Thembeni is not suitable to get electricity because it is on a wetland.
“Eskom has no problem with electrifying the areas of concern. It is waiting for a go ahead from the City. The areas that are supposed to be electrified, including Mpolweni, Covid 1 and 2, Nqentsu, Zinzi (there are few shacks which don’t qualify because they are on road reserved),” said Tetani.
He added that Nyakathisa informal area also doesn’t qualify because it was built on provincial government land.
Tetani stressed that his concern is that the protest might get momentum if the City doesn’t resolve the matter.
When the City Vision sent a media inquiry to the City about the protest it was referred to Eskom.
According to the City, the power utility is responsible for electrifying the Makhaza area. “This area is supplied by Eskom, please contact them,” responded the City.
Provincial spokesperson for Eskom Zanele Bukani stated that the power utility required a locality map of the indicated areas. “Residents are advised to contact their local municipal official first to request electrification of new areas as Eskom requires municipal approvals for electrification of any informal area,” said Bukani.
