A resident from Honeydew Plot 52, Shimi Mathebula, was adamant that it was about time for the government to stop neglecting them.
Mathebula was amongst thousands of residents from the Zandspruit Informal Settlement who marched from the settlement on the morning of 20 April to Honeydew Police station hoping that City of Joburg Mayor Parks Tau would address their problems.
Due to this march, parts of Beyers Naude Drive around the area were closed. This included Mari Street and Peter Road. Police and metro police officers diverted the traffic to other alternative routes.
According to Mathebula, the settlement was started way back in 1994 but the government did not bring any development to the area. “We started staying here before Cosmo City, Diepsloot and Thabo Mbeki informal settlements were even started. To date we don’t even have electricity,” he explained.
He said it had been three weeks since the transformer in the area blew up and left many residents in the dark. “Residents from Honeydew Plot 52 deployed a group of people to liaise with Eskom but they were told that the entity could not help them,” he explained.
Mathebula admitted that there was nothing that inspired residents in the area. “We do not have parks, recreational facilities or a library. We can’t even inspire our youth. Only a few houses were built and now the government does not even want to speak to us,” said Mathebula.
One of the marshalls, Donation Ngobeni said they started as early as 4am in the morning to ensure that chaos does not erupt.
Residents demanded that the City supply electricity at the informal settlement and develop acceptable living conditions in the area. This should include building proper houses and supplying electricity and sanitation.
Residents waited in anticipation for hours until representatives from the City arrived. However, residents refused to listen to them and asked them to leave as they wanted Mayor Tau to address them.
Residents then left with some of them promising to come back after eating their lunch. Some of them were even screaming that they have occupied and owned Beyers Naude Drive.
Honeydew Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Karen Jacobs said the roads would remain closed today.
Details: Honeydew Police, 011 801 8604.
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