Give us our 48 000 stands, angry Freedom Park protesters demand
Residents of Freedom Park, Lehao and Lenasia have been promised the stands would be ready in November, but nothing has happened.
A tyre is seen burning on the Golden Highway near Eldorado Park as members of the JMPD look on, 2 May 2018. Parts of Soweto, Lenasia and Eldorado Park were earlier affected by protests as residents said no to pre-paid electricity and water meters, and demanded decent houses for all. Picture: Michel Bega
While Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba gave a glowing account of his administration’s achievements in service delivery yesterday, residents in the city’s impoverished western areas took to the streets, demanding land, housing and services.
But it was the provincial government that was blamed this time.
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Freedom Park, Soweto, to express their frustration with the government’s refusal to fulfill its promise of land.
According to Freedom Park community leader Thabang Makhele, former MEC Paul Mashatile promised communities in Soweto – including Freedom Park, Lehao and Lenasia – 48 000 stands in Southern Farm, with the provision of basic services such as water and electricity.
The land was scheduled to have been handed over to the communities by November, but nothing has yet been done, Makhele said.
“[Former minister of housing] Lindiwe Sisulu allocated funds, but we want to know what has happened to that money. Someone needs to be held accountable because we haven’t seen it.
“We are not interested in housing, we are angry and we want the 48 000 stands as promised last year.”
To date, the City of Joburg has constructed 1 089 new RDP homes. A further 1 000 homes await only electrification to be complete.
Also read: Un-Freedom Day rally hears of struggle for land
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