Update: Metro responds to Makause informal settlement residents protest
Makause informal settlement residents are part of the metro's plans to improve living conditions in all informal settlements - says metro.
The roads surrounding the Makause informal settlement were closed on Monday due to a service delivery protest.
“Though the roads in the area were closed the protest remained peaceful with officers from the SAPS and EMPD monitoring the situation,” said Sgt Styles Maome, communications officer for the Primrose police.
This was until a number of residents began to loot shops within the informal settlement.
Primrose police reacted swiftly and aided shop owners in getting themselves and their stock out of the informal settlement.
The situation seemed to calm but reports surfaced of unrest in Makause at 6pm.
“At 6pm on Monday evening residents began throwing stones at passing motorists.
“Police fired rubber bullets and teargas into the crowd to disperse community members, and order was restored to the area by 9pm,” said Maome.
Members of Marlands Community Policing (MCP), Primrose Residents Against Crime (PRAC), the Primrose CPF and CPG Security were on hand to help police with road closures and monitoring the situation.
The metro responded to the day’s protest actions assuring Makause residents that a process to reallocate them to an identified piece of land was already underway.
“The first group made up of 1 000 residents will be relocated, in July, to an identified piece of land in Germiston Extension 46 in line with the municipal schedule.
“The remaining residents will benefit from the metro’s Re-blocking Programme, which is aimed at re-configuring the current layout of informal settlements and re-organising the ground plan to optimally utilise space to promote the health, safety and well-being of households, with a focus on promoting accelerated service delivery to informal settlements,” said Themba Gadebe, spokesman for the metro.
MMC for Human Settlements Clr Lesiba Mpya visited residents to reassure them that improving the living conditions of the people of Makause is at the top of the metro’s agenda.
“The identified land in Germiston Extension 46 will be equipped with amenities such as water and a sanitation system, roads and electricity connections,” said Mpya.
Currently services provided to Makause by the metro include, waste removal services, health services from the Wannenburg Clinic, prevention of land invasion, disaster management, grading of informal sports fields, conduct crowd management and chemical toilets and water stand pipes.
Articles on previous protests:
Watch all the action: ‘We want houses, service delivery!’
Makause residents take to the streets in service delivery protest
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