Police reinforcements were brought in from Port Elizabeth after hundreds of residents burnt tyres and branches and built rock-barricades on the main street of Alicedale on Friday 20 March.
Police reinforcements were brought in from Port Elizabeth after hundreds of residents burnt tyres and branches and built rock-barricades on the main street of Alicedale on Friday 20 March.
One observer claimed the protesters numbered 2 000 in the morning.
When Grocott's Mail reached Alicedale around 12.30pm, they numbered around 300 and smoke from burning tyres and branches strewn across the road filled the air.
In the 38C heat, the angry group, led by members of Sanco, the South African National Civic Organisation, were calling for the Makana Mayor, Zamuxolo Peter, to come and address them.
They were gathered outside the municipal offices, where a strong police presence kept watch.
Earlier on Friday Grocott's Mail received a distressed call from two Alicedale residents.
"We're worried," said Herbert Bruinties around 10.30am. "Things are getting out of hand. Next step they will burn down the municipal offices like they did in Kirkwood."
He said they had tried in vain to reach municipal officials in Grahamstown to intervene and come to address the crowd.
People are frustrated," Bruinties said.
"They have many issues – no houses, bad roads – and the government is doing nothing."
Eli Konstant, who also called from Alicedale, said, "They started very quietly this morning, but now it's got out of control. They're angry because no one from Makana Municipality has bothered to get into their car and come and hear them out."
Residents interviewed in the course of the protest cited numerous grievances, including broken promises of housing, missing funds, poor roads and poor sanitation.
"The last houses were built here in 1999," said George Bok.
While there were angry words and strong gestures, Grocott's Mail witnessed no threatening behaviour from the protesters. This was borne out by earlier observers.
Bushman Sands Hotel security guard Mbulelo Vayo said, "People only want houses. They didn't break buildings or cars. They only burned tyres.
Councillor for Makana's Ward 14 Ernst Louw said, "This is not an unreasonable community. I suppose the financial crisis in Makana has an impact on service-delivery here – but they've been waiting a very long time.
"Today they are calling for the Mayor to come, and to bring with him officials from the Province so they can hear their concerns."
Ward 14 is a large rural area that includes Seven Fountains, Mosslands, Highlands and Sidbury.
Louw said they were expecting Mayor Zamuxolo Peter to attend a meeting with members of the Provincial Legislature in the Transriviere Hall on Monday.
Members of the Public Order Policing Unit arrived after the protesters had returned to Transriviere.
They had riot equipment in their vehicles including flak jackets, helmets and riot shields.
However, they busied themselves clearing the road of the rocks and other objects placed there.
sue@grocotts.co.za
