Residents block roads to spur authorities to action
To get authorities to take action and provide them with water services, residents of Naas blockaded roads around the Kamaqhekeza Plaza earlier this week.
NAAS – It seems to officially be strike season in Nkomazi, as the third major protest action in the region in four weeks was launched on Monday.
Community members blocked the four roads surrounding the KaMaqhekeza Plaza in Naas with bricks, stones, school tables and trash.On Tuesday they also blocked alternative routes, to prevent motorists from reaching any shops at the plaza and surrounds.
Community members demanded water and resolved to close the roads in an attempt to spur the authorities to action.
The plaza was completely blockaded and shops closed. Community members were unable to attend school or work as modes of transport was stranded.
Protestors told Corridor Gazette that authorities were not paying attention to their demands. They submitted a memorandum but had not received a response. They tried to close the municipal offices, but had no effect and moved on to bigger protest actions.
Municipal officials came to speak to the protesters, but were chased away as the crowd “didn’t trust them because officials kept telling them the same thing.”
On Wednesday, police dispersed protesters using rubber bullets when they continued to try and block roads with corrugated iron and other materials.
Last Monday the community of Dludluma closed one of the area’s major roads, also in attempt to get authorities to respond to their demands.
They used burning tyres and wood to keep motorists and pedestrians from crossing, with police on standby to ensure the situation did not escalate.
They demanded a tarred road, a clinic and basic services such as water. They also insisted to meet with the premier to ensure they were heard by higher levels of government.
According to municipal representatives, these services are not in the current budget, but they are aware of the community’s needs.
READ: Residents block road to protest for clinic, service delivery
On August 24 Middelplaas residents closed access roads to local schools and clinics in protest of the deteriorating condition of Mpumelelo Primary School. They demanded a new school with safe ablution facilities for their children.
Two learners were injured when an ANC ward councillor allegedly fired several shots into the crowd that was attempting to chase him away. He was arrested and appeared in court for attempted murder.
READ: Community closes school over structural safety concerns
During the 2017/18 budget speech at the end of July, the mayor of the Nkomazi Local Municipality, Cllr Thulisile Khoza, stated that “the broadening of access to potable water to all our people remains one of the municipality’s most critical tasks”.
An amount of R28,8 million was allocated to a water-reticulation project in Driekoppies, Nhlabaville, while R13,7 million went to a similar project in Mananga and R16,8 million to one in Magudu.
READ: Municipality reveals their budget and priorities for 2017/2018
Reticulation backlogs in Middelplaas and Driekoppies, a reticulation project in Block B Nkanini, the improvement of regional bulk schemes in Tonga, Sibange and Driekoppies and the upgrading of bulk lines at Shongwe Hospital, Block C Phakama, Mandulo and Tonga were also on the list.
During the budget speech the mayor stated that “while significant progress has been made, it remains clear that a lot more work still has to be done within our limited resources to realise our goal of full and sustainable access to water by all our people”.
