The Democratic Alliance (DA) has urged the government to improve service delivery in order to halt protest action by disgruntled communities.
”These protests can easily be stopped before they even start by simply ensuring that the basics, such as tapped water and electricity connected to pre-paid meters, are up and running as quickly as possible,” said Paul Willemburg, DA spokesperson on local government.
He said the protesters voted because promises were made and they believed the African National Congress slogan in the last election, that there was a plan to make local government work.
”It is no use bragging about delivering services to a few hundred residents in far-flung regions when millions are still without,” he said.
Willemburg said he drove past protesters in Lenasia South, who were marching against poor service delivery.
Residents warned they would continue and escalate their protests to highlight the serious lack of service delivery. ”To put it bluntly, they are gatvol [fed up],” he said.
Earlier, protesters blockaded the Golden Highway with stones and burning tyres, said Johannesburg metro police spokesperson Wayne Minnaar. Traffic had to be diverted to the N1 and K43 in Lenasia South.
Police spokesperson Captain William Mcera said a community hall was burnt down and six police cars were damaged.
The protesters handed over their memorandum to a municipal official, giving the mayor 14 days to respond to their grievances. — Sapa