Pretoria - In 2018 the City of Tshwane installed a sewer system and water pipes at an informal settlement called Zithobeni Heights, but to date, the infrastructure is yet to be connected to the main water supply in the area.
Growing impatient by the inaction of authorities to provide them with water and electricity, residents last week took to the streets in a service delivery protest.
The City was forced to withdraw its workers from the area due to the hostility of protesters, who wanted to connect electricity and water illegally from the neighbouring settlement called Marikana.
One of the protesters was arrested by police while he was busy connecting power illegally from an electric pole in Marikana.
On Saturday, residents told the Pretoria News about the failed promises by the municipality to deliver better service.
A few years ago the residents were relocated from land owned by Transnet in Extension One to Zithobeni Heights.
Deputy secretary of Zithobeni forum, Elizabeth Mkhwebane, said they were relocated because the land owned by Transnet was not habitable.
“We had flushing toilets in Extension One and they dumped us here, where there is no proper infrastructure. They promised us temporary structures while we are still waiting for RDP houses.
“But it looks like their promises were all made in vain. Our shacks were supposed to be electrified by now, but that also didn’t happen,” Mkhwebane said.
She also bemoaned the poor state of the gravel roads, which were impassable in the event of heavy rains.
The municipality has provided portable toilets and water in Jojo tankers for residents.
However, residents like Nomvula Mahlangu and Sandley Freekse bitterly complained about the quality of the water, saying it was not drinkable.
They also said the toilets were not regularly emptied and that they were not hygienic.
Residents believed that the lack of electricity, which meant there were no street lights, contributed to rising crime in the settlement.
Many have resorted to using paraffin stoves and wood to make fire for boiling water and cooking.
In a media statement last week, the city said protests in Zithobeni Heights led to interruption of services and forced the city to suspend some of its service delivery operations.
“Due to the demonstrations under way (last week), the city has now withdrawn its personnel and contracted entities as a precautionary safety measure,” the city said.
There were also delays in day-to-day municipal services such as power failures, collection of waste, pipe leakages, and sewer blockages due to the ongoing protest.
The Bronkhorstspruit Regional Office, Zithobeni Customer Care Centre and depots had to be temporarily closed.
But, Mkhwebane denied the city’s claims: “It is not true that the city withdrew its workers from providing services due to the strike. All we want is electricity and water.”
Former mayor Stevens Mokgalapa promised residents construction of water, sanitation services and road infrastructure with the mega-project expected to yield 4 000 housing units.
This year in June, suspended Human Settlements MMC, Abel Tau, reiterated that there was a project in the pipeline to build at least 4 000 housing units for residents.
He said there had been major delays in finalising proper water supply to the area.
Pretoria News