City of Mbombela comes to a standstill as service delivery protests intensify
These service delivery protests come just a week after some parts of Mpumalanga had been blocked off as community members call for improved services.
Roads leading in and out of a number of villages within the City of Mbombela (CoM) remained closed for the better half of today, April 16, due to a protest action by community members within the affected areas.
These include Pienaar, Tekwane North, Zwelisha, Clau-Clau, KaBokweni, Embonisweni and Plaston.
No one came in or out of these areas as scores of community members had barricaded the roads with burning tyres, debris, rocks and mounds of dirt.
ALSO READ: Eleven suspects arrested for alleged illegal mining in Barberton
Operators of minibus taxis and buses in these affected areas had to put their services on hold as there were no alternative routes out of these areas. The communities’ main concerns were services, employment and economic opportunities.
A number of communities in Mpumalanga have engaged in protest actions in the past week, calling for improved services such as roads and water. There were also those who were protesting for decent schools and admin blocks.
Some who spoke to this publication said they wanted services and business opportunities.
“Look at the state of our roads. There is absolutely nothing. The roads between Tekwane North, Emoyeni, Lihawu, Pienaar and Gedlembane are non-existent, and believe me, some of us are subjected to drive here every day. I do not want to talk about the lack of water in these areas. You can just go to the Karino and KaNyamazane water treatment plants and see the queues of people waiting for water there, then you will understand what we mean when we say this government has neglected us,” said one protester in Lihawu.
These same sentiments were shared when this publication visited the KaBokweni area. The protesters and some community members said they had been without water for the last few weeks.
ALSO READ: Lydenburg K9 unit raids illegal factory
Recently, members belonging to various taxi associations staged their own protest, demanding better roads in villages in and around the CoM.
“They promised us that the road between Emoyeni and Lihawu would be attended to, but it has been a year now without any action. We are tired now, and this is just the beginning, as more protest actions are coming if we are not attended to. We are prepared to even stage a protest on May 29, because, really, what are we voting for if the roads are still like this?” said a taxi operator in Lihawu who was part of the protest there.
