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We want RDPs, say angry residents

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A mum and her toddler wander through burning tyres blocking the road leading to Ekuphumleni yesterday.      Photo by Chris Qwazi
A mum and her toddler wander through burning tyres blocking the road leading to Ekuphumleni yesterday. Photo by Chris Qwazi

MORE than 200 gatvol residents blockaded roads in their kasi with burning tyres and rocks yesterday morning.

The people of Ekuphumleni squatter camp, near KwaZakhele in Port Elizabeth, said they were trying to get the attention of mayor Danny Jordaan.

They said they wanted Jordaan to speed up the building of RDPs in the area.

They burned tyres and closed all the roads leading into the kasi.

Cars had to use other roads, and workers were forced to walk long distances to catch buses and taxis.

Community leader Lizo Kitimani told Daily Sun: “We are frustrated and we want service delivery and RDPs.

“About R13,5 million was budgeted for our area and we agreed the metro would build 194 RDPs here. We also reached an agreement that 58 families would be moved to Kayamandi in Despatch and Motherwell NU 29.

“We know the people who are supposed to be moved. But some residents are refusing to go. They are delaying the process.

“We first protested in May and had a meeting with arts and culture MEC Pemmy Majodina. We also met officials from the human settlements department.

“Eviction orders were issued and the people who were supposed to move were given 14 days to leave the area. But they ignored the order and last month we called the mayor to help us.

“The mayor promised to speed up the process. He even gave me his number, but now he’s not answering my calls. We have decided to continue protesting until the municipal elections. We will only stop if the mayor comes to us with positive answers.”

Lwandile Sicwetsha, spokesman for the human settlements department, told the People’s Paper: “We have built 17 000 RDPs since 2013. We are building more RDP houses, but residents protest each time we are approaching elections for political gain.”

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