Rasta Village service delivery protest rocks Alex
ALEXANDRA - Anger and frustration over alleged failed service delivery promises boiled over in Alex last night resulting in a protest which ended at a councillor's home.
Anger and frustration over alleged failed service delivery promises, boiled over in Alex last night resulting in a protest that ended at a councillor’s home.
The protest, by residents of Extension 8 and from the nearby Rasta Village next to the Jukskei River, resulted from a seemingly long-simmering anger with the alleged failure by Ward 105 councillor Joyce Ngwenya to deliver on her promise to resolve housing and other related challenges. A group of protesters, escorted by the police, marched to the councillor’s home in Eastbank to register their anger.
Wonderful Moyo of Rasta Village said the protest was inevitable after residents, in particular those from Rasta Village, have been excluded from housing developments resulting in them being squeezed in next to the river bank.
He said the councillor had, on several occasions, promised, but failed, to attend scheduled meetings to resolve the housing problem. “Lately, we have also been affected by a lack of electricity after power supply boxes were vandalised. After they were repaired, some residents in the area had their appliances destroyed due to a power surge and will likely not be compensated,” said Moyo.
He said the protesters conducted themselves peacefully and were addressed by the Deputy Chief Whip of Council Justice Ngalonkulu at the councillor’s house, as the councillor was not around.
Meanwhile, Ngwenya confirmed the protest telephonically but said it resulted from challenges she faces with residents of Rasta Village who, she said, live in a place unsuitable for housing.
“Some of them have been allocated houses elsewhere but sold them and returned to the village,” she claimed.
She denied failing to attend scheduled meetings, stating that at times the village residents acted violently. “They have been issued notices to vacate their illegal structures by the Joburg Metro Police but have failed to honour them.”
Ngwenya added that they, instead, wanted electricity to be connected to their structures which would not be not safe or healthy.
“Sometimes we meet with them and the relevant authorities but they threaten and force officials to leave without resolving anything,” she alleged.
“Without [electricty] they are then forced to connect illegally from houses in Extension 8, causing tension between the two groups with Extension 8 complaining to council.”
Ngwenya said a meeting was scheduled for this evening with city officials and the residents to attend to the matter.
Details: Councillor Joyce Ngwenya 073 565 8594.
