RESIDENTS of Blackburn Village Informal Settlement have vowed to cease protesting and blocking the N2. This comes after a meeting between residents and the eThekwini Municipality last week to discuss electrifying the settlement. A commitment was also made by the City to relocate 50 families to Cornubia to pave way for legal electricity connections.
In the past year, the residents have blocked the N2 four times in order, they say, to get their voices heard.
Residents blocked the N2 just before Sibaya Drive last week in an attempt to get the City to understand their plight after a community member was electrocuted when he stepped on an illegal connection. Ward councillor, Heinz de Boer, said the housing department will try and locate 50 families to Cornubia by the end of the year.
“One of the main problems is that in order for the City to install the elecriticy poles through the settlement, a number of shacks have to be moved. I’m yet to be sworn in as councillor for Blackburn and meet the leaders of the settlement to discuss the way forward. I’m happy that the residents have taken a decision to stop protesting on the N2 which cause major delays last week,” he said.
Sam Reddy, who is part of the ANC’s Branch Executive Committee said the Blackburn Village community had been without electricity for the last four months.
“A community member was tragically electrocuted in Blackburn which was the second electrocution this year. This accident sent shock waves through the community and resulted in the first post-election delivery protest which resulted in the closure of the N2. We set up a meeting with the community leadership of Blackburn to stop the protest and called a meeting with the Department of Electricity and community leadership.
“We are working with the community leadership and will make sure that the community does not engage in any protest action leading to the closure of the N2,” he said.
