Mawande Jack
Pandemonium broke out as angry protesters from Kwazakhele township in Port Elizabeth toyi-toyed and barricaded roads blocking the flow of traffic during the early morning rush to work on Thursday.
Police had to be called in after the group of about 200 residents effectively barred taxis and buses from passing via Starunway Road in the busy Struandale industrial area, protesting about poor service delivery, an unaccountable ward councillor and water and electricity cuts by the Mandela Bay municipality.
Leader of the group, Teressa Mlomo, said the protest by residents mostly from the Greenfields, France and RDP housing area was “a show of unhappiness” with the ward councillor.
“Our councillor is always unavailable to listen to our complaints. We live in a situation where water and electricity is cut without being given any reasons,” Mlomo said.
Chaos ensued as police and traffic officers battled in heavy rain to remove the rocks, rubbish, zinc and burning tyres blocking the road to allow free movement of traffic.
Some of the police had to keep a close watch on the group to deal with unruly elements among the crowd to prevent it turning violent.
“We will not move from here until the councillor, the mayor and someone from President Jacob Zuma’s office come to address us” Mlomo said. Some of the residents spoke about how RDP houses were being occupied by people who were not legal beneficiaries and collapsing RDP structures caused by shoddy workmanship.
They referred to a municipal human settlements report about hundreds of RDP houses being sold to foreign nationals who operate spaza shops.
Among the protesters was a 50-year-old woman whose house had its roof blown off by wind. She said despite promises by the councillor and developer to fix the house nothing had een forthcoming. Because she had nowhere to go for alternative accommodation, she had to take from her child support grant to fix the house.
“The roof of my house was blown off in September last year. The councillor came to inspect the house and saw the damage. I have never seen her up to this day.”
Each time there is a strong wind or rain, it causes her sleepless nights as she fears the roof, which has not been properly fixed, might be blown off again.
Residents said councillor Nomhle Mzilikazi was last seen in the ward soon after the election results last year. “She does not call meetings and we do not know her whereabouts. No one attends to our complaints” Mlomo said.
The human settlements portfolio committee chairperson, councillor Fikile Desi, said residents whose water and electricity were cut must submit their names to him and he would address these in “next week’s public meeting”.
mawandej@thenewage.co.za
Article source: http://www.thenewage.co.za/42372-1016-53-Barricades_block_traffic
