Dissatisfied residents of the portion of Angelo informal settlement called Mission ran amok over the weekend.
This followed a meeting with the Human Settlements MMC, Lesiba Mpya, about the planned relocation of their homes.
Mpya met with the furious residents on September 23 outside the Angelo Hotel building, where he updated them about the relocation process.
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The MMC told the crowd that despite considerable opposition to the relocation, the municipality is going ahead with its plan, adding that the relocation is expected to start on October 5.
During the question and answer session, all those who got the chance to ask questions told the MMC that they were still against the move to Germiston, saying they were dissatisfied with the metro’s decision to spend millions of rand purchasing a piece of land and building shacks to temporarily accommodate them, without first properly consulting all the stakeholders.
They said the metro should have spent the money on procuring a permanent place nearby for the community.
While answering questions and despite all the harsh criticism, the MMC stuck to his guns on the issue and said “you are going.”
He also pleaded with the residents to give his department a chance to improve their lives, saying the relocation to the new area was part of the metro’s plan to develop their lives.
But residents did not receive this well. The MMC’s announcement sparked a furious row over the relocations of the residents who are facing being evicted.
The handful EMPD officers at the event tried to break up the fracas but failed and this led to the MMC being rushed to his car and whisked away.
Thereupon, the angry community members took to the streets, blocking Main Reef Road with rocks, tree branches and burning tyres and chemical toilets between Field and Pretoria Road.
They demanded the MMC return to the area and listen to their demands, instead of ‘bulldozing’ them.
The EMPD and SAPS members arrived and monitored the situation and advised motorists to use alternative routes.
The protest which started in the morning continued until at about 3.30pm, disrupting traffic between Witfield and Comet.
The crowd eventually met at the traffic light on the corner of Field and Main Reef roads where they all agreed to call the protest off until further notice.
Municipal workers worked until very late in the night to remove the rocks, tree branches and other objects on the road.
No casualties were reported and arrests made. -@FanieFLK
