Protesters from Ekuphumleni blocked all approach roads into Kenton this morning (Monday 3 August) in an attempt to draw attention to their lack of housing, water, roads and electricity.
Protesters from Ekuphumleni blocked all approach roads into Kenton this morning (Monday 3 August) in an attempt to draw attention to their lack of housing, water, roads and electricity.
Burning tyres, branches and rocks were spread out across the R72 (Alexandria to Port Alfred) and the R343 (Grahamstown to Kenton) .
No cars were allowed through and motorists and truck drivers were forced to turn back or to try and find a way through on dirt roads.
This is the latest in a series of service delivery demonstrations, the last of which, at the end of May, saw police firing stun grenades and smoke cannisters at over 350 Ekuphumleni residents on the R72.
Today the numbers were smaller but the protesters were no less determined. Ekuphumleni resident and leader of the protest on the R343, Eric Grhowana, said, "We want houses, here we live in shacks, it’s been raining for days….we have no electricity, no nothing, no running water."
Nosisi Sifunda, who also lives in the area, said, " I also want a house in the township, I have no house and no electricity… our roof is leaking."
Craig Paterson, whose family is from Kenton and who was on his way there from Grahamstown to visit his grandmother, said he had complete sympathy for the protestors as they were continually being let down.
"I think the way these people are being treated is disgusting. Not just the [Nhlambe] Municipality breaking its promises but the whole way the place exists."
He urged Grocott's Mail to spread the message about the residents' grievances.
"I want you to tell as many people as possible about what's going on."
Protests in May were over dissatisfaction with the poor delivery of RDP houses. Independent councillor in Ndlambe Municipality's Ward 4 Zache Ngxingo in May told Grocott's Mail that corruption and lack of good communication between executive mayor Sipho Tandani and the people was the cause of the protest.
“People are tired of the mayor’s empty promises and [his failure to attend]meetings with the people. They are tired of living in the shacks and the only way they could be heard is by voicing [their frustration]," Ngxingo said at the time.
He said he'd been assured the local housing project would begin by mid-July.
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