The MEC of Human Settlement, Mr Speedy Mashilo, was met with chaos when he visited Extension 30, known as Marikana, in Kinross, for a sewer sod turning project on Thursday, October 28.
Chaos erupted when a group of community members tried to disrupt a meeting between the Govan Mbeki Municipality, Mr Mashilo and residents in the area.
The group demanded that the meeting and sod turning ceremony must stop. They also wanted Mr Mashilo to address them about the the sewer project.
They also alleged that politicians have already elected a project steering committee without their knowledge.
“Why were we not informed that the MEC is coming, because we are the ones who were fighting for our area to be formalised.
“Today, these politicians want to take credit for our fighting. Where were they when we were taken to court by the municipality? We spent money that we don’t have and won the case against the municipality.
“We want the MEC to come to us, not to people who were not there. This is our hard fought victory,” said Mr Bongani Ngomane, a group leader.
Mr Mashilo said he understand their frustrations and promised to work with them. He also said as far as he knows, there is no steering committee for the project, but he is here to introduce the contractor that is appointed by his department.
He also said the sewer project costs R45-million which will be done in phases.
“I have completed the township establishment for the area and Extension 30 is now formalised as a township by law. The community must elect a steering committee to make sure that the contractor is doing good work.
“They must make sure that pipes that are installed, are correct according to our agreement. We don’t want to see spillages after the completion of the project.
“We have appointed inspectors that do not take bribes. When something is not right, they will say it straight and they will monitor if the contractor is doing work within the specifications given by our department.
“I request that as a community, you have to make sure that the project doesn’t fail,” said Mr Mashilo.
In 2016, residents occupied the land next to the railway line, claiming that the municipality is failing to open new residential areas and they were tired to live in rented rooms.
The municipality went to court to apply for an eviction order, that was granted, but the residents challenged it and won the case.
