Lerato Park residents block roads over stalled electrification project

RESIDENTS of Lerato Park set tyres alight and blocked roads with broken glass and rocks this week over a stalled electrification project near Roodepan.

Community members said they had been living for several years without sanitation, water or electricity, as well as other basic services.

“We will have to make a plan to buy electricity once it is finally installed, as we are not sure if we will be able to afford the high costs,” they added.

Residents said two contractors were supposed to be introduced to the community for phases 7 and 8 of the electrification of 173 stands in Bobo se Plaas on January 12.

“We will continue with protest action until the Sol Plaatje executive mayor and Speaker tell us where the funds that were allocated for this project were spent. They are playing hide and seek. We have been living in the dark with a high crime rate, and the snakes are biting us. We have to make use of candles and are at risk of shanty fires.”

They demanded that the mayor and Speaker address them on Tuesday night. Arrangements to meet with the community on Wednesday did not materialise, and the meeting was once more postponed to Thursday afternoon.

SAPS Northern Cape spokesperson Sergeant Merapelo Pilane said the Public Order Policing Unit in Kimberley responded to an incident of community unrest on January 13 in Lerato Park, where community members reportedly barricaded the road with burning tyres and other objects.

“An agreement was reached between the community and SAPS, and the barricades were removed, burning tyres were extinguished, and the road was cleared. No arrests were made, and police will continue to monitor the situation,” he said.

Sol Plaatje Municipality did not respond to media enquiries at the time of publication.