In the aftermath of last week’s mayhem, irate Social Distance shack dwellers have vowed to make the area ungovernable if their grievances are not addressed.
On Friday 16 August, disgruntled residents barricaded Mew Way Road with burning tyres and stones demanding service delivery.
The neighbourhood is one of many informal settlements that mushroomed around Cape Town at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
After more than four years, residents are demanding services. They are accusing government of ignoring them. Among others, they are demanding additional temporary toilets and electricity.
Faith Mhlonyelwa, a community leader, said nothing is happening in the area and they want the installation of communal taps. “We depend on the City’s truck that brings water for us. The truck comes twice a week, only Wednesday and Sunday. What about the other days? And not all of us get the water because some of us are at work when it comes,” said Mhlonyelwa.
She described Friday’s protest as the start of the many to come. “What is it difficult for the councillor to come to our area and address us about what is going on? Last year, three people (a mother and two children) died in a shack fire. People were watching because we have no water to extinguish fires,” said an irate Mhlonyelwa.
She highlighted the shortage of temporary toilets as one of their biggest challenges.
Residents use a nearby bush to answer the call of nature. “We have more than 1 600 shacks here and we only have about 360 temporary toilets. What about other people, where they are going to help themselves?” asked Mhlonyelwa.
She stressed that they don’t have electricity as well, but stated that they are starting with the essential services.
Ward 90 councillor Lukhanyo Simangweni expressed dismay at claims that she neglected residents. He said the community never came to him with their grievances. “I fail to understand why the community leaders went on the street instead of coming to me. The SD leaders are well informed about what is going on. I told them that there are processes that have to be followed in the City and they know about that,” said Simangweni, adding that he never shy away from meeting them.
However, he stated that the City officials will visit the area to assess it before installing the communal taps.
“Soon the City officials will come and do the survey in the area and see if they can install communal taps,” he said but didn’t confirm when exactly they will come.
Simangweni also confirmed that there are shortages of temporary toilets in the area, citing that he’s busy trying to organise them.
