Angry Hammanskraal residents chase Tshwane mayor away
Residents of Hammanskraal claim that they are treated like the city's adopted stepchildren and that they never actually see services.
Disgruntled Hammanskraal community members chased the Tshwane mayor away from the Jubilee hospital on Monday.
Following the recent cholera outbreak that claimed 15 lives, mayor Cilliers Brink was due to conduct an oversight inspection at the hospital.
Currently more than 100 people are being managed in the emergency unit and more than 40 in the general ward.
The angry community prevented the mayor from entering the hospital.
The mayor had to be escorted away from the fuming community by his protection service.
DA ACCUSED OF FAILING HAMMANSKRAAL COMMUNITY
The community accused the DA of failing to sort out the water crisis since taking over the Tshwane municipality.
“The DA have been in power since 2016 and to date haven’t sorted out the Hammanskraal water situation.
“The mayor being here today doesn’t or will not solve anything as 15 people including an infant have passed away.
“Him (Brink) being here healthy worsens the situation.
“We want accountability.
“But because it is in Hammanskraal no one will take the blame,” said an angry resident who requested to be anonymous.
RESIDENTS CLAIMED THEY ARE COMPELLED TO DRINK POLLUTED WATER FROM THE TAP.
While others say they are treated as stepchildren of the Tshwane metro.
“Since the issue first arose, nothing has been done, they said water tankers would arrive, but they have yet to do so.
“We are forced to chain [lock] our taps as the children could drink the water and get sick,” said Ofentse Mokoena, a Temba resident.
“We are struggling; we are obliged to buy water, and even the tankers, when they arrive, they charge us to fill our buckets.”
Beauty Masebe, said the tap water is contaminated.
“Since the water occasionally turns brown and smells foul, it shows that the city doesn’t clean it.
“Even after being boiled, it stinks and we are forced to buy drinking water.
“When will Tshwane start providing clean water?” asked Masebe.
A crowd that had clearly been orchestrated prevented me from entering Jubilee District Hospital. It’s unfortunate that political games of this nature are being played during this difficult period. #Hammanskraal @CilliersB pic.twitter.com/16QHfo5i9Z
— Mayor Cilliers Brink (@tshwane_mayor) May 22, 2023
The mayor however blamed political oppositions for orchestrating his chase at the hospital.
“A crowd that had clearly been orchestrated prevented me from entering Jubilee hospital.
“It’s unfortunate that political games of this nature are being played during this difficult period,” said the mayor.
“The crowd that deterred us to engage with health professionals are foot soldiers clearly,” Brink continued.
He said the city noted with great concern that there’s a dire need to refurbish the Rooiwal water treatment plant.
“We are willing to work with provincial and national [governments] and private sectors to actually refurbish the water plant.
“In the meantime communities are urged to refrain from using tap water.
“Test samples have come back negative for E. coli and cholera,” Brink said.
“However this doesn’t make the water from taps safe to consume.”
ALSO READ: Hammanskraal cholera outbreak: Zero cholera detected in piped city water supply
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