Sol dragged to meet the people
DISGRUNTLED protesters from Phomolong Extension earlier this week made their intentions clear that they will no longer wait in silence for their long-promised water and sanitation services.
They met with a delegation led by Sol Plaatje municipal manager Thapelo Matlala and mayor Kagisho Sonyoni, together with the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta), on Wednesday morning.
The meeting followed a two-day protest during which major roads in the area were barricaded.
The demonstrations were sparked by the recent blocking of electricity by the municipality, which resulted in residents enduring the long weekend in the dark.
The residents decided to take their frustrations to the streets, as they said they have warned the municipality to get its house in order on several occasions.
Five people were arrested for public violence, while the police dispersed the protesters with rubber bullets.
On Monday, the mayor promised to unblock the electricity, but this never happened, resulting in further protests.
According to the residents, they wanted clarity on their billing system and have been demanding water and sanitation for the past 14 years. According to them, Phomolong Extension is supposed to consist of 261 shacks.
The settlement was extended but those living in the extended section do not have electricity and basic services.
Community members said they are aware that a business plan for the settlement was submitted and wanted to know what happened to their allocated grant of R5 million a few years back.
Ahead of the meeting, there was a back-and-forth regarding the venue of the engagements. Sonyoni wanted the community to elect a delegation to meet them at the municipality, while the community wanted the delegation to “go to the people”.
Sanitation appears to be a major issue with residents digging their own pit toilets. According to them, in 2021 they had a protest where they were promised that toilets would be erected.
“While we wait for basic service we are billed exorbitant amounts and do not get clarity on the billing system,” said one resident.
They proposed that billing start at zero after clarity has been given. “We do not have a problem paying our bills. All we need is clarity on how the system works.”
Matlala committed to suspend the blocking of electricity in the area in order for all the accounts to be scrutinised, and then return to the residents to give feedback.
He said every account will be dealt with individually.
“We have noted your request for us to start the billing system at zero, but we cannot take that decision here. We have to look at the implications of that. We first have to resolve the confusion.”
Matlala said the issue of water and sanitation in the area was raised by the ward councillor in council, but he blamed the failure to deliver on limited resources.
“There was an abandoned project here of dealing with the sanitation issue.
“We have an IDP which is a five-year programme. When council adopted the budget in May, we got a small provision of R5 million, not only for this place but it is for other places as well.
“Your councillor will have to sit with you to prioritise and look at the framework because we do not have all the money.
“We are still going to submit a business plan to the Department of Water and Sanitation in order to obtain more funds to enable us to resuscitate that abandoned project.”
