Johannesburg - About 600 Orlando East residents protested on Tuesday against the City of Johannesburg installing prepaid water meters in the area.
The protest, which began at the Ritz Square in Masupha Street, was led by Orlando East Task Team chairman Seth Mazibuko.
He said ward councillors had implemented prepaid water meters under false pretences at the end of last year without consulting residents.
“We are a poor and elderly community,” Mazibuko said. “Many are pensioners who cannot afford to give their child R20. How can they be expected to pay for this?”
He said the community was using the march as a platform to protest against Orlando Stadium being sold and renamed as well as against plans to build flats on a rugby field in the area.
“Our rugby field gives our children a place to play and helps them to stay away from drugs and crime. Where will they play if it’s destroyed?”
Young and old members of the community turned out, carrying placards and chanting as they ripped out at least seven prepaid water meters.
A 65-year-old Orlando East resident said the government was creating a hard life for people in Orlando East.
“It’s bad, we have no money here. They must give us a new councillor. We cannot pay for this rubbish.”
Another resident, AB Mefetoane, said he was saddened about the situation, adding: “I’m on a disability grant, I cannot pay for this water meter. It’s not fair what they are doing.”
As protesters made their way to Orlando East police station, DA MPL and Orlando East resident Tsepo Mhlongo joined the protest.
Mhlongo said: “I’m here because water is a basic need. People have the right to choose whether they want to install these prepaid water meters. You cannot force it on them,”
He said he took the issue personally because his parents were affected.
PAC spokesman Lehlohonolo Shale also took part in the march. “Families cannot be expected to live on 6 kilolitres of water a month. This is just like e-tolls,” he said. “It’s a way for the government to milk people dry. This is the opposite of service delivery and we must stand up against it.”
Protesters arrived at Orlando East’s council offices in Sofasonke Street to hand a memorandum to Zamokuhle Mhlongo, who is overseeing the prepaid water meter project.
He accepted the memorandum but declined to comment.
Protesters made their way to the municipal offices to meet ward councillor Sechaba Khumalo, who failed to arrive, prompting the community to return to Ritz Square to discuss the next step.
Khumalo said he was doing what he could to meet the community halfway.
“We are even planning to increase the amount of water from 6 kilolitres to 10 kilolitres a month. We have to implement this into the infrastructure as a way to stop corruption from forming within. That is why we started this,” he said.
The Star