Pretoria – The Mayor of Ekurhuleni, Mondli Gungubele, will meet with the residents of Daveyton at Sinaba stadium on Sunday to listen to their grievances.
Earlier this week, residents participated in violent protests, which saw all roads leading to the township blockaded with rocks and burning tyres. They were reportedly venting their anger after the municipality stopped their plan of illegally occupying land.
Residents also raised allegations of corruption in the allocation of RDP houses and Mayor Gungubele is expected to use Sunday’s meeting to provide a way forward in terms of the issues that led to the impasse.
The restoration of peace in the area is attributed to the establishment of a Task Team on Tuesday evening, which includes community members and Members of Municipal Mayoral Committee (MMCs).
In the task team, the municipality is represented by MMC Aubrey Nxumalo and MMC Mthuthuzeli Siboza.
Meanwhile, the Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements and Cooperative Governance, Jacob Mamabolo, has commended the municipal leadership for restoring peace in Daveyton.
“I urge the people to be calm and allow government and residents’ representatives to find each other through peaceful means. I welcome the formation of the task team between government and community leadership and this team has my full support.
“Violent protest and destruction of property is never a solution to service delivery problems in communities and it reverses the gains of democracy,” he said.
MEC Mamabolo urged residents to stop using the apartheid style of protesting that results in destruction of infrastructure.
He further assured the community that all outstanding issues will be resolved within the task team.
He pleaded with members of the community to support the team and allow for a peaceful environment to resolve issues.
The MEC said government has demonstrated that they are always willing and ready to engage communities where there are problems.
“Communities cannot continue to use violence as a way of showing their grievances. Let us follow the proper channels and stop causing chaos in order to be heard,” he said.
The MEC said Gauteng government is dedicated to work closely with communities affected by challenges of services.
He highlighted that the recent engagements in areas like Bekkersdal and Bronkhorstspruit have restored calm in those areas.
“As we continue to engage the leadership in those areas things have gone back to normal. I am positive that the grievances raised by the community of Daveyton will receive lasting solutions,” he said.
With regards to allegations around the allocation of RDP houses, the MEC has urged residents to come out with evidence that there is illegal allocation of houses in the area.
“We would need evidence of fraud so that we can deal with anyone who is involved. We need something to work on so that proper channels are followed and the allegations can be verified in a proper way,” he said.
The MEC warned residents to guard against criminal elements, who use protests to advance their illegal activities. - SAnews.gov.za
