By Phumlani Saul
Kariega, Eastern Cape – In a desperate bid for housing, shack dwellers in Kariega’s Gunguluza area 11 brought the R334 Rocklands Road to a grinding halt on Monday and Tuesday morning for the second consecutive day.
The protesters, including people with disabilities and former backyarders, blockaded the road with burning tyres and rubble, demanding that the municipality build houses for them.
The protesters claim they were relocated to the area in 2017 but still live in squalid conditions next to 300 built toilets that have been vandalised and a faulty sewerage system. Despite promises from the municipality, the community has been left to suffer in deplorable conditions.
Nokuzola Mahlahla, a protester, expressed her frustration, “We thought the municipality would fix the leaking sewage before the June as they promised . They came and campaigned, but we are still living next to vandalised toilets.”
Siphiwe Petela, a father of three, described the dire situation, “I arrived in 2017 from Taliban informal settlement, which was declared a flood plain. When we arrived, there was no seat on my toilet. Some people bought themselves toilet seats, but the toilets don’t flush. We have to pour water to flush.”
The protesters were met with unfulfilled promises from the municipality. Ward councillor (ANC) admitted,
“I don’t have answers. I have gone back to the meetings we had with the municipal officials, when we were promised on 24 May that a contractor would be introduced on 5 June. But that did not happen.”
Rudi April, assistant director of human settlements, attributed the lack of progress to the recent floods and the resignation of the engineer in February. However, the protesters remain resolute, demanding that houses be built for them.
The protest highlights the dire housing situation in Kariega, with many residents living in subhuman conditions. The community’s plight is a stark reminder of the need for urgent action to address the housing crisis in the area.
The protesters vowed to continue their demonstration until their demands are met, leaving the municipality under pressure to deliver on its promises.
Daily Kasi News 