Nompumelelo frustrations threaten to boil up again

Violence is threatening again in Nompumelelo township as frustrated residents accuse the mayor of failing to attend to their problems.

Earlier this month, residents had a stand-off with law enforcement officers after they burnt tyres and blocked off roads in protest.

At the centre of unhappiness was a power outage that lasted for more than a week. Residents also complain their township is filthy because the metro goes for weeks without collecting refuse.

Residents, led by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), accused executive mayor Zukiswa Ncitha of turning a blind eye to the problems they faced.

Residents want the mayor to attend to:

• Illegal electricity connections;
• Access to land for housing development and community amenities like burial sites;
• Upgrading informal settlements;
• Sports facilities; and
• Providing title deeds for residents.

Community leader Songezo Nkungwini said they were being ignored by the mayor.

“The protest earlier this month was motivated by the mayor’s ignorance. We are near a multimillion-rand business hub – we should be benefiting from these developments but there’s nothing. Shack dwellers are stealing electricity because BCM doesn’t care.”

Resident Nosisa Mabhulu said they would end up sabotaging business if the metro did not offer solutions.

Ncitha’s spokesman Sibusiso Cindi defended the mayor, saying she had attended to residents’ issues.

“The power outages were due to izinyoka . Izinyoka lead to loss of life and impact negatively on service delivery. Some residents shouted that they will not stop using izinyoka,” said Cindi.

He said law enforcement officers would be ready to deal with lawlessness.

“We appeal to our residents to stop sabotaging and vandalising property and infrastructure to get their message across. Strong action from our law enforcement agencies will be taken.”

Nkungwini said if there was no solution, “we can’t be able to stop these thousands of people if they express their anger in this form. We will back them in their action”.

He also asked what happened to plans for a housing project.

Ward 29 councillor Makaya Bopi said he was going to engage with the mayor again on problems facing the township.

“We are in support of a phase two housing project but not in a place that is earmarked for business. That area is privately owned but we are talking with the municipality to get land for a housing development.”

Nkungwini said there were no set dates for protests in their community. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za