Residents of Tokyo informal settlements, in Ramaphosa, say they are tired of Ekurhuleni metro’s long overdue and empty promises to provide them with electricity or be relocated to a nearby developed area.
Hundreds of residents from the area took to the streets in the early hours of September 9, to voice their frustration over what they described as poor service delivery and lack of communiqué from the city’s Human Settlement Department.
After struggling to get feedback about when the promised projects to relocate or install electricity in the area would commence, residents resorted to protesting by blockading Elsburg Road with burning tyres, rocks, and tree branches.
Residents told the Advertiser that they felt they were being snubbed by authorities, as after years of waiting for development their community leaders had on numerous occasions tried to get information from the metro regarding the future of the informal settlement.
“We previously had several strikes over development including electricity supply, and our leaders had meetings with the Human Settlement Department, but all that the municipality could tell them was that its officials would organise a public meeting to address the community. That promised meeting never materialised.”
“We have been promised years ago that our area will be electrified or be moved to a nearby location, but we are all being left in the dark about the commencement of the promised projects,” explained Selaelo Marothi.
EMPD officers arrived at the scene to control the crowd and redirected traffic to other alternative routes.
One of the organisers of the protest, Ike Mapaya said they were tired of living in the dark while their neighbouring communities are enjoying the benefits of having electricity.
“We have been living in the area since 1994, but no developments have taken place. We still make use of paraffin lamps and candles where we have been living in the area for years. There have been many incidents of shack fire’s due to the candles that we use.”
“We have submitted numerous memorandum’s to the councillor and the municipality asking for electricity, but they’ve turned a blind eye.”
“Last month we also embarked on a protest action with the same grievances, but up until now we haven’t received any response,” Mapaya said.
Ward 93 councillor Jeff Mthembu arrived in the area and promised residents that the MMC of Human Settlements, Lesiba Mpya, will come on September 13 to provide a detailed plan about when the metro will electrify the area.
The community reiterated that if the project doesn’t start on September 13, they will have no choice but to organise another protest.
According to Ekurhuleni spokesperson Themba Gadebe, the Department is planning to commence with the electrification of Tokyo end September 2020.
He added that the instruction to perform work has been issued to the contractors.
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