“Sizongena nge socialism. Ayobaleka ama capitalist ” chanted the residents of Meadowlands as they were up in arms yesterday to hand over a memorandum of grievances to the municipality administration and governance at the municipal offices in Zone Two to absent Community Development Workers (CDW), ward councillors, municipality and town managers.
“We sent them a notice to say we were going to hand over the memorandum but they chose to not be here and attend an Imbizo at the police station where the MEC of Community Safety, Sizakele Malobane-Nkosi is.
“That alone is an act of disrespect and failure to listen to the voices of those who elected them to lead the zonal community.” said a resident during the protest.
Illegal house sales and evictions, prepaid electricity, water and infrastructure development were some of the grievances listed in the memorandum delivered by residents.
“Our Memorandum of Grievances employs dissatisfactions caused by your negligence in running (an) open and transparent governing system in serving communities in your constituencies,” read the memorandum, “You the administrators i.e Councillors, Municipality Managers and the CDW in your office know that we know you are not doing your work as prescribed by policies of your employment in capacities you serve in our local municipality governance designated nationally.”
Maki Anderson, resident of Ward 42 said she was protesting in support of residents who are being failed by the system.
“We have witnessed residents being evicted illegally from their homes because someone had allegedly bought the house and there’s suddenly two title deeds for a single house.
“These illegal house sales are a nightmare because we don’t know which family is targeted next.” said Anderson.
“A certain somebody within these offices works with a reputable property company in the sales and evictions of these houses.
“Residents are trapped in family feuds due to the rules and regulations of title deeds governance which residents don’t fully understand,” said fellow protestor Katleho Mfolo.
Residents were angered by the prepaid meters that were recently installed without clear communication from the municipality on the operation of these meters.
The assumption that residents don’t want to pay for water and electricity fuelled residents to come together in an attempt to demand explanation of the operational charges of these meters.
“Poor leadership and administration fails the people of Soweto. It’s not that we don’t want to pay, the problem is that it is not communicated to us,” shouted a resident during the gathering.
The mob gave the municipality until July 23 to respond to the memorandum.
https://soundcloud.com/axtonrbanews/protest
