The construction of three new schools in Uitenhage’s KwaNobuhle has been halted by angry residents demanding that their RDP houses be fixed.
Fed up with what they believe is inaction from the municipality and their ward councillor, residents of Ngunguluza and Duduza closed off the construction of Nkululeko High School, Mjuleni Primary School and Noninzi Luzipho Primary School.
Community activist Siyabonga Fila promised that residents would protest until they saw visible action from the municipality or the Eastern Cape department of human settlements.
“The reason why we closed those schools was because we wanted everything to stop in the ward.
“We don’t even know who the people on those projects are because they are not from our ward,” Fila said.
Education department spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima confirmed residents had stopped two construction projects.
“We only know of two projects that have been stopped, Noninzi Luzipho and Nkululeko High,” Mtima said.
“Delays on the construction sites would lead to delays in the delivery of schools.
“There is also a possibility of penalties, depending on the cause, which could result in a shortage of funds to finish the projects.”Fila accused ward councillor Simphiwo Plaatjies of hiring ANC members for all construction projects in the ward and said they wanted him out.
The residents embarked on a two-week protest that saw the councillor’s office closed for at least eight days.
They burnt tyres outside the office in Bantom Street and blocked off Rocklands Road, near KwaNobuhle.
Meanwhile, motorists travelling along Rocklands Road are having their driving skills put to the test as charred tyres, stones and blocks of wood appear to be reset daily by the protesting residents.
Residents are reportedly continuing to block the busy stretch of road until the department of human settlements gives them concrete answers as to when their faulty homes will be rectified.
Garden Town Initiative chairman and Volkswagen employee David McCleland, who regularly travels on the debris-strewn road, said the onus was on the municipality to ensure roads were safe for residents.
“Unfortunately, very little has been done.
“If you take a drive up the road the rocks are still there, half the burnt plastic is still on the edge of the road and it still poses a risk to motorists driving on that road.
“Because of the poor lighting and the numerous cattle roaming and lying next to the road, it’s a major accident risk waiting to happen,” he said.
In McCleland’s e-mail correspondence with a senior superintendent in the public health & waste management sector, the official said: “We will be cleaning the area when it is safer for us [council workers].”
However, KwaNobuhle resident Sinovuyo Mhlope, 48, said it was necessary to shut down all access to the ongoing projects in the ward. “We need to stop all developments and that includes access to developments to ensure we are heard and receive what is due to us,” he said.
“We understand there are supposed to be schools, houses and other infrastructure built which will benefit the community in future, but the community needs assistance now. And we are willing to work – we are not asking for handouts.”
Municipal spokesperson Mthubanzi Mniki said human settlements portfolio head Nqaba Bhanga had met the protesters to find solutions to their grievances and more meetings were planned.
He said the challenge with housing rectification was the size of the houses versus the government’s rectification policy, which states that no houses will be rectified beyond the legislated size of 40m².
“The municipality has interacted with the province about this, an agreement has been reached.
“However, the municipality is still communicating this with affected residents.
“Budget approval for rectification from the province still remains a challenge,” he said.