Shack dwellers barricaded Baden Powell Drive in Khayelitsha this Wednesday with burning rubbish and tyres to demand employment as street cleaners under the extended public works programme of the City of Cape Town. Community leader, Mzwakhe Matshoba said the shack dwellers wanted ward 95 councillor, Ayanda Thethani, and the City of Cape Town to change how cleaners are hired.
The post Residents protest for EPWP cleaning jobs first appeared on Elitsha
Vincent Lali reports that on Wednesday 3rd July, shack dwellers barricaded Baden Powell Drive in Khayelitsha with burning rubbish and tyres, demanding employment as street cleaners through Cape Town’s Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP). Community leader Mzwakhe Matshoba criticized the hiring process, alleging that ward councillor Ayanda Thethani personally chooses replacements when selected candidates are unreachable. Matshoba insists that community meetings should select these candidates, ensuring they are from the same area as the absent individuals. He accused the city of repeatedly employing the same people to clean ward 95, preventing others from having opportunities. The shack dwellers had stopped the cleaners from working since Friday, citing unfair employment practices.
Matshoba also questioned Thethani about the ward budget for recreational activities, claiming there was no visible use of the funds meant to engage youth. Thethani responded that the 2023/2024 sports budget was spent, and the new budget starting July 1 would fund sports activities.
During a demonstration outside sub-council 10 last Friday, Matshoba demanded clarity on the boundaries of Enkanini informal settlement and why the Enkanini Project now includes ward 99. This project involves relocating shack dwellers from Vosho informal settlement and other areas to vacant land beside Baden Powell Drive. Matshoba claimed Vosho residents were not getting jobs from the project.
Khuthala Mazeka, a demonstrator, expressed frustration over the lack of development in Vosho since 2018. She described dire sanitary conditions, with residents resorting to using buckets and digging holes due to the absence of toilets. Mavis Mpeteni highlighted the inaccessibility of emergency services in Vosho because there are no roads, forcing residents to carry the sick or deceased to waiting ambulances on Baden Powell Drive.
Councillor Thethani questioned the protest’s legitimacy, suggesting it was politically motivated and claimed he had received no prior grievances. He plans to meet with the shack dwellers and the sub-council next week to address their complaints. The City of Cape Town announced a meeting with community members on July 5, 2024, to discuss and address their concerns.
