Angry Covid informal settlement residents of Mfuleni have vowed to intensify their service delivery protests if the municipality does not resolve their grievances.
The irate residents took to the streets on Friday 2 and Monday 5 October, closing sections of the R300 and N2 with burning tyres, severely disrupting traffic. They are calling on the City of Cape Town to install temporary toilets, communal taps and electricity in their area. Covid is one of many informal settlements that mushroomed at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and has no municipal services.
Bathandwa Gali, a community leader, described the protest as the beginning of many more to come.
Seven years without basic services
He said they had been in discussions with City officials and even marched to the Cape Town Civic Centre and the provincial legislature to raise their concerns. He claimed their cries fell on deaf ears.
“We had four peaceful marches to Cape Town to raise our concerns. We even handed over a memorandum of grievances. Our last march to both the municipality and the Western Cape Government (WCG) was on Friday 14 August. The officials vowed to respond to our grievances within seven days, which they didn’t,” said Gali, adding that they followed all the right channels, but claimed the City ignored them.
He stated that so far, their protest has been peaceful but will escalate if the City doesn’t come to the table.
“We agreed with the residents that there will be no stone-throwing at motorists. Our aim is not to damage people’s cars, but we want to be heard. The City failed to listen to us when we approached them and now we are going to the streets and we are not backing down,” he stressed. He declared that they have a clear strategic plan.
“All we need are basic services. We have been staying here for seven years and there are no toilets, water or electricity. We are fetching water and connecting electricity from neighbouring areas. We are using pit toilets or going to the bush to relieve ourselves, it’s unfair,” he explained.
“No political party will campaign here”
Gali stated that not a single political organisation is trying to help them.
“We took a resolution that no political party will come and campaign here. And we are not going to vote. What is the point of voting if we are still going to stay without services? We don’t need much, just basic services,” said Gali.
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City cites wetland and reserve land as constraints
The City’s spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo said the WCG, with input from the City and other authorities, has on previous occasions liaised with members of this community and responded to give clarity on matters including electrification, water and sanitation. He stressed it is important to emphasise that this settlement was formed on Western Cape Government land and in an Eskom-supplied area.
“Large parts of the land are also situated in a wetland and on nature reserve land, which are further major limiting factors in terms of feasibly being able to electrify the area and to provide other services. The City encourages all protest action to remain peaceful and not compromise the safety of motorists or surrounding communities,” said Tyhalibongo, adding that City safety and security staff are monitoring the situation.
Traffic management
The City’s Traffic Services spokesperson Kevin Jacobs said the City has operational plans in place with officers and Provincial Traffic. Additional resources have been deployed on all major routes.
