On 25 October, the community of Marikana in Promosa, specifically residents from C Section, embarked on a protest sparked by their frustration over service delivery.
According to the residents, they have notified the municipal department of housing of their living conditions countless times without success.
Tembisile Tekani, a community activist, says they have also informed the Human Rights Commission of these matters. While they did intervene with solutions and plans, the community has not seen any of them being carried out in their community.
He adds that the residents are tired of seeing development and improved living conditions happening around them, while they are not being helped.
Tshepo Lepamo, a resident of C Section, agrees and says he often sees bakkies heading towards Ext. 4 with building materials and furniture. Like most of his neighbours, he has been living in C Section for almost ten years, when people started assembling their shacks in 2009. Since then, they have been complaining about their living conditions, but haven’t seen any changes.
According to Sophy Kegopotsemang, another resident, people went as far as putting their names on a waiting list as far back as 2009. But, they still haven’t been allocated a stand.
The houses in this section are squashed together in an attempt to make space for other homeowners.
Tshepo and Mammie Susan Motaung (Sophy’s neighbour), fear the spread of house fires that regularly occur. In a recent blaze, the residents close by arrived in time to extinguish it before it spread to other homes.
The residents use a communal tap and there are no toilets or a sewerage system in place. The community uses buckets and empties them in nearby utility (man)holes or on illegal dumping sites at night or in the morning. One of the residents complains that it lands up in her yard. Tshepo says people often walk to the other side of the graveyard to relieve themselves.
The community of C Section went to the municipality before the protest. When they met with the manager of housing, she gave her word that she and other officials would come and see their living conditions for themselves. But, when the Herald spoke to the residents, they claim they had still not been there. On the same day, they allegedly had another meeting with the municipal manager. He, too, promised that he would be there last week, but they are also still waiting for him.
According to Sophy, she went to the housing department to enquire about the 2017 waiting list. She heard the stands that were supposed to be allocated to the recipients had already been given to other people. They then showed her a list of areas where stands were being allocated and, while A- and B sections were there, C Section was nowhere to be found!
The community is understandably frustrated and demands an opportunity to live in an area with better resources and service delivery. C Section plans to embark on another protest this Friday, 8 October.
Willie Maphosa, the municipal spokesperson, says the municipality has consulted and solicited views and opinions from the residents of Marikana. “About half of the people can be allocated proper sites and be housed in the area. But, the other half of Marikana is dolomitic.” He adds that the provincial department of rural environment and agricultural development are busy with an environmental assessment.
* The Herald has still not received the municipal comment on the other concerns of the residents in C Section.
