SEDIBENG. – Thousands of squatter camp dwellers, political, and faith-based organisations marched to Sedibeng District Municipality in Vereeniging over housing headaches.
On Wednesday, April 17, the main roads in some parts of Sedibeng saw a sea of protesters singing and chanting as they made their way to deliver their memorandum of grievances.
According to march organisers, the peaceful picket was to demonstrate and reclaim the dignity of informal dwellers in the region.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, organiser Baba Shabalala from Buntu Bomuntu explained their reason for the planned march.
“As people who stay in squatter camps, we had to remind the municipality that when the government remembers others, we are also human. Our ancestors and grandparents died while still waiting for houses. We had hoped that we would be given a better life with the new government,” he said.
“We were here to reclaim our dignity as the people. We can not be treated with dignity while we live in squaller. No one is allowed to stay in conditions our people face on a day to day in an informal settlement,” he said.
Shabalala said each year when it’s voting time, they are promised service and later never delivered.
“We were promised a better life, with better housing and comfort, security yet we don’t see that. People have been holding Form-C and housing approvals however we see people are getting sold by government officials,” he said.
Sedibeng District Mayor, Lerato Maloka together with Human Settlements & Development Planning MMC Madisebo Khomoeasera together with other officials received the memorandum and promised to get back to the protesters within seven working days.
“This is a final march, our people have marched and it’s enough,” he added.
