LEANDRA – Angry residents set alight seven trucks in two weeks’ time in a violent protests in Leandra.
The community began protesting for land two weeks ago and demanded to be addressed by the Govan Mbeki Municipality’s mayor, Mr Nhlakanipho Zuma, on 1 June.
Mr Zuma and his mayoral committee met with the Leandra stakeholders where he listened to the community’s outcry.
He promised to respond after seven days but the community refused to wait for this feedback.
When the mayor and his mayoral committee left, community members continued with their protest and a truck was set alight at night.
Roads, even those into the township, were blocked with stones and burning tires.
Protesters brought the township to a standstill on the morning of Friday, 28 May.
They claimed Govan Mbeki municipality doesn’t keep its promises to the community.
They said they are fighting for land because the municipality last gave them stands when South Africa became a democracy.
They also said the municipality told them that they built an R11-million stadium in their township, but they only see an open soccer field that does not account for that amount of money.
The protest affected many residents who use public transport to work and also learners who were forced to walk long distances to reach Megabuses that were queuing at the Leandra Police Station.
On Tuesday morning, 8 June, four trucks were set alight on the R50 road, while it was arranged that the mayor will meet with the community.
The mayor arrived with with his members of mayoral committee, he addressed the community using a police Casper.
Mr Zuma told residents that in Lebohang they were supposed to have two extra extensions which is 14 and 15.
According to the mayor, these two extensions never realised because of wetlands in the area, meaning that there is ground water.
He said the municipality conducted studies in other areas such as extensions 24 (known as Ekuthuleni),25 and 26.
The land in Ext 24 is owned by different private companies of which one wants to develop it and make residential stand for the community of Lebohang.
Mr Zuma said a coal mining company possesses the rights to mine that specific area.
“We have tried to talk to that mining company, but we were told that they cannot give us answers now because the matter is currently handled by the court.
“The issue of extensions 25 and 26 is in the hands of Mpumalanga Human Settlement’s MEC.
“The municipality has engaged the MEC, and he responded by saying that Leandra’s development proposals are receiving attention.
Human settlement issues is not a municipal matter, but an issue for the provincial government.”
Mr Zuma said the municipality gave the land they have along the Ogies road to the Department of Human Settlement for development.
He said they are waiting for MEC the Human Settlement department to say when the infrastructure will be erected.
The community was dissatisfied with the mayor’s response and they began s as they began shouting him.
Police said cases ranging from of malicious damage to property and public violence were opened at Leandra Police Station.
Only four people were arrested for public violence. The situation is now calm though not stable.
