May 8 was a historic day for the residents of the Greater Eldorado Park. For the very first time, residents took to the streets in protest because of the many grievances they felt had not been addressed.

Criminals took advantage of the protests by looting various shops and vandalising property within the community.

This can be looked at as business rivalry because not all businesses were looted, for example, both BP garages were looted but the not the other garages in the community.

This was sparked due to the leaders not having a mandate to represent Eldorado Park as a whole.

From this Weizmann Hamilton, started the Greater Eldorado Park United Civic (GEPUC) campaign with other residents.

This was started to achieve a representative that is democratically elected, transparent, and mandated from the community as well as accountable, according to Hamilton.

On June 22, a meeting was held by a steering Committee in all 15 areas that the Greater Eldorado Park was divided into.

Two members from each area were elected, consolidated and constituted as representatives of the Greater Eldorado Park community.

GEPUC is in the process of building a platform of demands for the community.

In doing so, GEPUC has engaged with other communities, after accepting an invite from the Ennerdale community to a meeting.

On June 24, at this meeting, GEPUC joined forces with 31 other communities which led to the establishment of the Gauteng Civic.

The Gauteng Civic was established to create a common platform of demands. On July 23, a rally will be hosted to address the concerns and grievances of these united communities.

Hamilton has made a call out to the Member of the Mayoral Committee, Member of the Executive Council as well as the Minister of Human Settlements to attend this meeting to tell the community what plans they have to address their demands.

“We are not prepared to accept claims that there is no budget. If the MMC, MEC and minister fail to attend this rally, we will embark on a rolling campaign of mass action, uniting all the communities around their common demands,” said Hamilton.

According to Hamilton, GEPUC is not only interested in addressing housing grievances, but also crime, women and children that have been abused, drugs, unemployment, lack of decent health and educational facilities.

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