The DA has applauded the recent march by residents of the Makause informal settlement, in Primrose.<\/p>\n
The march highlighted the poor level of service delivery from the metro and the absolute filth in which so many South Africans are forced to live.<\/p>
\u201cAs the ward councillor, I was informed that there would be a march and, while we support the right to protest, the DA strongly condemns damage caused to any council or private property,\u201d said Ward 21 councillor Tania Campbell.<\/p>\n
\u201cResidents of Ekurhuleni and the poorest of the poor are once again the victims of mismanagement and the lack of proper planning by highly paid executive directors of the<\/p>
metro.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe DA believes the buck should stop with the executive mayor, Clr Mondli Gungubele.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe must put progressive measures in place to ensure residents of informal settlements can live with dignity.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the ward councillor for Makause, I have met with the leaders of the informal settlement and the relevant council departments on a number of occasions, to address the issues of service delivery in the area, with very little success.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added that the residents are growing tired of the empty promises made by the metro.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver the years, I have handed in petitions on the issues of solid waste, housing and water.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe mere fact that housing has been the number one priority on my IDP for over 10 years highlights a major shortcoming by the metro,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe failure to provide service delivery is robbing the community of the right to live their lives with dignity.<\/p>\n
\u201cMountains of solid waste litter the entrance to Makause, while the solid waste department keeps implementing \u2018pilot projects\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, nothing the department does has been sustainable.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis, in itself, has huge health risks for all members of the community who are forced to live in squalor.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo toilets have been rolled out in the informal settlement and the community is still making use of inhumane pit toilets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Campbell said that the surrounding suburban areas have seen property values plummet, due to the high levels of filth, and investors do not want to return to the once-thriving CBD of Primrose, which is having a negative impact on job creation in the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe right to dignity is enshrined in our constitution and, therefore, I agree with the frustrations of the community, who feel they have been forgotten by the metro at even the most basic levels,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is demonstrations and marches like this that show people deserve more and are getting fed-up.<\/p>\n
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Related articles:<\/p>\n
Watch all the action: \u2018We want houses, service delivery!\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Makause residents take to the streets in service delivery protest<\/a><\/p>\n