Residents demand running water
"I’m getting sick of protests. Why can’t we accept that Nkomazi is poor and negligent? Can't we see no one is willing to deliver services? Instead we get killed or injured, and some go to jail,”
MANGWENI – On Wednesday September 3, residents of the area joined in the ongoing water-related service-delivery protests taking place in the subregion.
They demanded the fast-tracking and completion of water projects in the community, saying that they have been waiting for long enough now.
“My mother grew up pushing a wheelbarrow to the river for water, and so did I. And now my children have to do the same. It has been more than 10 years since we were promised running water, yet we are still pushing wheelbarrows. We are tired of waiting, it has been long enough,” said one of the protesters.
They barricaded the D294 connecting the R571 Mananga Road to Mangweni and Tonga, with burning tyres.
On social media, the matter of ongoing service delivery protests in the municipality has been met with mixed emotions. Some have said that these protest are costing community members so much more instead of yielding results.
“I’m getting sick of protests. Why can’t we accept that Nkomazi is poor and negligent? Can’t we see no one is willing to deliver services? Instead we get killed or injured, and some go to jail,” said a resident, Nomcebo Queen, on social media.
Meanwhile others voiced their frustration with government, and said they would also be protesting soon.
“We at Mbangwane are going to join them soon. The so-called ward councillor is useless. We need water. It’s been three to four months now. Before elections they promised many things, but so far they have done nothing. I am glad I didn’t vote for this useless party which has failed us for 20 years,” said Innocent Freedom on social media.
The spokesman for Nkomazi municipality, Mr Cyril Ripinga, said they were addressing the community’s grievances and were hopeful that all water projects would be completed on time.
“We are already in the process of addressing the concerns of the community. The contractor is already on site and has started with the construction of a water reservoir. A total of R34 million has been appropriated by the municipality to address the Mangweni bulk-water supply, and we are hopeful that all three projects will be completed on schedule,” Ripinga said.
However, he condemned criminal acts of making people pay in order to pass barricaded sections.
“It has come to our attention that some of the locals are making these barricades toll gates. This is a criminal act, and should they be caught in the act, they will be dealt with by the law.”
Furthermore, at the time of going to print, week-long protest action in Mzinti had come to a halt after municipal officials met with community members on Sunday September 7.
