Protest update: No votes from Steelpark?

VEREENIGING. – Steelpark residents of Vereeniging say there will be no votes coming from their area as the Local Government Elections take place.

This is as a result of a water supply interruption in the area since July 20.It seems the area was also affected by the burst pipes in Skippie Botha road and Langerand road in Sonlandpark. Residents also claim that there is always load shedding in the area although this was said to be a thing of the past. Other things residents were complaining about is potholes, the air pollution coming from the industries nearby and the lack of recreational centres for kids.

“We will only be addressed by Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) Mayor Simon Mofokeng. We are one of many communities that have to pay escalating rates and taxes to the municipality because if we don’t our electricity gets cut off.”

Residents further said they would continue with their protest should their complaints not be addressed. “If our issues are not addressed, there will be no voting polls in this area come Wednesday.”

The protest action was joined in by School children from the area who said that their school had been closed because of the water supply interruption. “Some of us are matrics and we are busy with exams. We have been turned back home since last week; there is no water at school.”

Learners said that the problem had even affected those learners who depend on the feeding scheme for lunch.

ELM’s Spokesperson Stanley Gaba says, “We have taken note of what the community is complaining about. The issue of water was an emergency as a result of the pipe that burst in Sonland Park, but the water supply was already back on Saturday. The problem of potholes is being attended to as Steelpark is one of the places where the recent project launched by Mayor Simon Mofokeng will take place.”

Gaba further added that the problem of electricity outages in the area was as a result of load shedding and electricity-overload caused by illegal connections. Sedibeng MMC for Basic Services Nomvula Thulo and Housing MMC Veli Mciga addressed the community on Monday. The road was open again on Tuesday.

Boy Louw Road was shut down after a service delivery protest by Steelpark residents two days before Local Government Elections. Photo: Moleboheng Chaha.