Sandiso Phaliso
WATER, sanitation, electricity and waste removal are some of the challenges that residents living in the Tsunami informal settlement in Delft face, according to a group of about 100 people who marched to the provincial legislature to demand better housing opportunities.
Tsunami resident Zandile Mgaguli, 36, said her living conditions were unbearable and the area is flooded after heavy rains on Tuesday night.
Mgaguli is one of the residents who marched to the legislature to hand over a memorandum of grievances to human settlements MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela’s office yesterday.
Mgaguli said in Tsunami residents had no electricity and ablution facilities were unhygienic.
“People have been living in this area for years without services and the government has forgotten about them.
“We need the minister to tell us his plans with regards to the development of this area,” she said.
Tsunami community leader Kwanele Mcaluli said they had decided to march to Madikizela’s office because they wanted to be relocated to brick houses where they would be provided with basic necessities such as water and sanitation facilities.
“We demand better services,” he said, adding that if Madikizela had not responded to them in seven days, they would protest and make Delft ungovernable.
“We need answers and we need them now,” he said.
Ray Rughubar, an official from Madikizela’s office, received the memorandum and promised that he would forward it to the relevant department.
“We accept your memorandum and will give it to the minister’s (MEC’s) office,” Rughubar told the residents.
Two weeks ago Tsunami residents violently protested in Symphony Way by blocking roads with burning tyres and rubbish, demanding proper housing opportunities.