Residents of Themba Khoza informal settlement near Ebony Park staged a protest on Republic Road in Midrand on 30 October in a bid to draw attention to the need to de-densify the informal settlement.
Democratic Alliance councillor Julie Suddaby was driving through Ivory Park when she saw the protest.
Metro police and public order policing units were stationed at either end of Themba Khoza, preventing access to the area, but gave Suddaby permission to enter the informal settlement and speak to the residents.
She said the residents have been engaging with their ward councillor Raisibe Matsemela for many years to no avail. She said the informal settlement is so densely populated that in the case of an emergency, the paramedics and fire engines would not be able to move inside, be it in a vehicle or on foot.
“Two paramedics would not be able to carry someone on a stretcher through this area, and none of the shacks is numbered. There is vacant ground nearby that the residents are requesting to access in an attempt to solve their population issue,” added Suddaby.
The residents told Suddaby that they feel marginalised and forgotten. They felt that barricading the road during their protest was the only option open to them in order to hopefully be heard and have their demands met because meetings did not bring the required results.
Midrand Reporter is still waiting for comment from Matsemela. We will update this story as soon as comment is received.
Thembakoza residents in #Midrand enters 3rd day of protest, daying they will dolish the newly buillt mall as they demand houses from gvt pic.twitter.com/d9iq1jiPwe
— Black Russian 🇲🇼~🇿🇦 🇷🇺 (@GiftAkefe) October 31, 2017
Thembakoza residents in #Midrand enters 3rd day of protest, daying they will dolish the newly buillt mall as they demand houses from gvt pic.twitter.com/ymytNVM7QW
— 🇿🇦Nyasalandian 🇲🇼 (@akefegift) October 31, 2017
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