Mams residents demand water
Residents said they resort to using buckets to collect rainwater.
Residents from several informal settlements in Mamelodi East marched to the Rayton municipality offices last week Thursday to demand water be supplied to their various settlements.
The marchers were from the informal settlements of Amanda Park, Freedom Park, Marry Me and New Town in ward 99.
“The four informal settlements were started last year around June,” said deputy EFF ward 99 secretary Ernest Magane.
“Almost every day we see trucks of water driving pass our informal settlements to deliver water in other areas, while we are struggling with water in the area,” he spoke of the residents’ plight.
Magane claimed that the informal settlements in question had been trying to have a public meeting with the ward’s councillor Johan Volman – but with no success.
ALSO READ: Water Wednesday: How much water does the average South African consume?
The marchers did, however, speak to Nomsa Mabaso, the regional executive director of region 5, at the march.
Mabaso told the marchers she would organise a public meeting between the councillor and the residents to discuss their demands.
Resident Patricia Bokaba said life is difficult without water in the area.
“Residents and school children are forced to go to school and work without bathing because there is no water in the area.”
Bokaba said she had to wait for the rain and use buckets to collect rainwater or travel a long distance to get water.
Residents also complained about safety issues at the informal settlements.
Recently, a resident was allegedly raped by three unknown men in her shack in the early hours of the morning.
Volman told Rekord he would look into the matter and whether the informal settlements in question actually falls under his jurisdiction.
He also said the water trucks referred to in this article were meant for extensions 7, 9 and 10.
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Unidentified Waterkloof man dies of epileptic attack
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
