Rabie Ridge community in peaceful march

The community’s gripe was over poor service delivery in the settlement, and was led by Rabie Ridge Residents’ Association. Unemployment and the issue of residents wanting preference for new RDP housing near the township also topped the list.

Midrand Reporter journalist Nokuthula Sonile was at the march and said Ward 110 councillor Lesibana Stephen Lamola was not present, but Rabie Ridge police and Metro police were there to control the crowd.

While the protest was mostly calm, at one point Rabie Ridge police took out their firearms. Sonile said the community confronted them and said firearms were unnecessary as it was a peaceful protest.

Hlobo Gamede of the city’s Region A offices received the memorandum on behalf of Lamola, and said the city would respond after 14 days. The residents were unhappy to have to wait that long.

This is the third march by residents over service delivery in a matter of months. The last was on 15 May, and along with demands for better service delivery, the residents were also angered that a Rabie Ridge community member was not offered the job as the community liaison officer for the upgrade of Modderfontein Road close to Rabie Ridge.

Lamola had said after this march that he believed the residents’ marches caused more harm than good as it stopped contractors from starting projects in the township.

He also believed that service delivery in Rabie Ridge was on track.