Metro hasn’t addressed residents’ memorandum – ward councillor

“Wednesday’s protest is a result of the mayor not addressing the community’s memorandum, which was handed over on March 8.”

This is according to Tania Campbell, ward councillor for Ward 21.

“Representatives from the human settlement department went to the Makause informal settlement last Tuesday, to give feedback on the issues brought forward by the residents,” she added.

“The community leaders and myself have had hours of meetings with officials, addressing waste removal, toilets, high-mast lighting and water for the informal settlement, but no solutions to the on-going service delivery problems have been given.”

Residents of the informal settlement took to the streets surrounding Makause, burning rubbish and blocking roads with rocks.

The EMPD reported that there was no concern over violence during the protest.

“Violence was virtually nil, save for the attempt by a group of 400 to 500 protestors to invade the bus shed (EMM fleet) and the Wannenberg Clinic on Pretoria Road.

“However, law enforcers acted swiftly and were able to prevent the attack, and only a couple of windows were cracked at the clinic and seven protestors were arrested,” Lieut-Col Wilfred Kgasago, EMPD spokesman, said.

William Ntladi, media liaison for the Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) commented that his department was not called to the scene and he received no reports of any injuries during the protests.

The metro confirmed that they were meeting with residents on Wednesday afternoon.

“On investigation the metro discovered that the main issue was a lack of information regarding the future of the settlement.

“The leadership of the area met with the MMC for human settlements, to clarify the issues,” said Zweli Dlamini, a spokesman for the metro.

No comment has been received since this meeting.

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