WATCH: Nompumelelo residents block EL roads in service delivery protest
Disgruntled Nompumelelo residents have vowed to continue with the service delivery protest in the township until Buffalo City Metro mayor Xola Pakati addresses them.
Residents took to the streets this morning to block all main roads leading to Beacon Bay.
Resident Portia Bontsi said they were frustrated over being let down by councillor who had allegedly instructed BCM workers not to install electricity in shack areas.
“Municipal workers were here last week to put up electrical poles and boxes in our shacks but we saw them leaving again.’’
Residents demanded answers. “When we asked them why they were not finishing their job, they told us that the councillor told them not to put up electricity in our shacks because we will cause shack fires.’’
She said they were left agitated with the councillor’s response. “When we went to the municipality, our councillor said he will not answer us and we must do whatever we want to do.’’
When the dispatch visited the area at 6am, residents were blocking major roads leading to Beacon Bay. There was a large police presence in the area and rubber bullets were fired to disperse angry crowds.
A group of residents have gathered outside the councillor’s house. Bontsi said the councillor left with his family at 3am this morning.
BCM spokesman Samuel Ngwenya said a rapid response team has been dispatched to the area. “They will attempt to have a meeting with the local leaders to understand the nature of the grievance and facilitate a solution. Our traffic and law enforcement agencies are also assisting the police in ensuring that order is restored.”