THE JOHANNESBURG SOUTH PROTEST
The community of Johannesburg South started a demonstration on the issue of better housing, prepaid electricity and water. They once protested last year but no action was taken by the government and this has led to the current strike which broke out of the second of May
On Wednesday morning, the 2st of May, the community of Eldorado Park and Freedom Park in Johannesburg protested over the installation of prepaid water, electricity and jobs as promised. The residents of Kliptown were also demanding more houses. Protesters were using burning tyres and rubble to barricade the N12, tyres and rocks were also used to close off parts of Soweto as well as Orlando West and Kliptown.
N12 was affected between the N1 and the Golden Highway, Klipspruit Valley Road through Soweto and Mojadi Street in Pimville.The police ended up opening fire with rubber bullets on protesters as a way of scaring them off. The roads were cleared off and the demonstrators were dismissed small groups of people remained gathered in Eldorado Park
The strike had a really and outcome, the state responded by allocating forty eight thousands stands to the Johannesburg South community, the Gauteng Civic Association’s Thami Hukwe reported.Uhuru Moiloa the MEC says that the community had no right to obstruct traffic, and that the government is trying to fast track the standing housing backlog, and that it will take time to be built because right infrastructure is needed.
Reports say that atleast people have been arrested for violence and have been charged with public violence, several vehicles were pelted with rocks and a truck was set alight. Motorists are urged to avoid using the area as well the drive through; no injuries have been reported from the citizens. The community members accused the MEC for rehashing excuses on housing developments.
Though the protests carried on no changes have been made or any solutions, the demonstrators are just hoping that the government will make changes. The same strike over the same protest broke out last in the month of May, and promises were made but were not fulfilled that’s why the community members think it’s better to demonstrate again and take matters to their hands with hopes that the government will give in and give them what they need and want.
One of the community members said that the conditions that they are living in are squalid and no any human being would love to stay there comfortable, they do not have running water, prepaid electricity and that they also need better land as well as better housing facilities.
Now that the police have managed to put a stop to the protest and the government has promised to fulfill its promises and give them which that they want and fast track the process so that people can live in proper and well sanitized areas
