Cape Town - Frustrated Nkandla informal settlement residents in Khayelitsha who have accused their ward councillor of selecting his “cronies” for employment opportunities, on Tuesday blocked Baden Powell Drive by burning tyres.
They also demanded an end to the City’s data system, which is used to employ people who qualify to be on the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
More than 50 protesters blocked the road on Tuesday morning.
Nkandla community activist Masixole Mtshamba said: "Our ward councillor only takes people who are close to him when there is an employment opportunity and as residents we are sick and tired of that because we have been waiting to be employed for a very long time. The people close to him are not in the City data system; he just finger-points them. When we questioned him about this he told us that we must wait for the City’s system. Based on what we know, clearly the City system takes the same people again and again but that is not how it is supposed to work.
"Suppose people work for six or 12 months then after the end of the contract they take other people, but you see the same faces every time. There are people who were in the Eastern Cape and were called to start work last month but there are people who have been here for years but we're never called," said Mtshamba.
Councillor Loyiso Mqina said a meeting would be held with the community to address their grievances. He denied the allegation that only certain people were given work.
"We have engaged with residents on how the City system works and it is not true that people are hand-picked for work.
“Everyone must be registered on the system and it's the system that makes the selection, not me.
“I have encouraged them to register so that when the time comes they will be selected. I can't control the system.
“Regarding other issues, we are attending to them and we will have a meeting with the community soon, said Mqina.
The City said it was working on the particulars of the matter and would respond in due course.
Cape Town