Protest action in front of Roodepoort Police Station
Community members protest the Mega Project in Ward 127 which led to the arrest of six community members.
Residents of Ward 127 protested in front of the Roodepoort Police Station to have community members released.
Goodness Nonhlanhla Madlala, a resident of Ward 127 stated, “We want them to be out by the end of today [August 23].”
She explained during a protest on the morning of August 23, community members were closing the site of the Goudrand Mega Project that was happening in the area, as they wanted the project owners to address the community on what was happening.
She stated the workers hired on the project weren’t community members from Ward 127, only workers from other areas.
“Our youth is fighting so they can get jobs, unfortunately, we have construction mafias, who are only working for themselves. They don’t look after the community. So now the community is angry, they also want to work,” she said.
She said instead of the owners addressing the protesters, the project owners contacted the police who proceeded to arrest six community members due to a court interdict issued in December 2022. She continued that the men arrested were not at the site, they were at home when the arrest was made at 06:00, when the site was not even open. Further, she stated the six members weren’t mentioned in the interdict.
Regarding the project, she said aside from community members not being hired, the community also wasn’t informed of the project’s value. Madlala said she was also suspended two-and-a-half years ago, without evidence. She was informed that her case was still being investigated. She added two months ago she was informed there was no case and they wanted to offer money, however, she stated she doesn’t want money, she wants her name cleared.
She concluded they do not want those in charge to come to the site, but rather to the community and address them the correct way.
The Roodepoort Record approached Charles Cilliers, chief of staff in the office of the MMC of Human Settlements regarding the allegations of residents from Ward 127 not being hired on the project as well as the allegations of corruption within the project to which he said the MMC will arrange to visit the project next week to get the facts about the project.
No comment has been received from the police or the ward councillor, however, if it is received an update will be given.
