Protesters blocked the R334 for two days after a shack dweller was killed in a car accident on his way to relieve himself in the bush across the road. Photo: Thamsanqa Mbovane
A protest erupted on the busy R334 in Kariega after a 51-year-old shack dweller was killed in a car accident on his way to relieve himself in the bush on Monday morning.
The protest was started on Monday by about 100 people and continued on Tuesday morning. Residents of the informal settlement, in ward 45, have been demanding toilets and houses for a long time. They say they were relocated by the municipality in 2017. Toilets were built for them but no houses; the toilets have since been vandalised and the sewerage system is faulty.
A witness who did not want to be named said: “The speeding vehicle emerged and hit the man down. The driver got out and pleaded with us to understand it was not a deliberate hit. We have lost a hero who died waiting for a toilet to be built by the municipality.”
“We were transported by municipal trucks with our own shacks in 2017,” said protest leader Sinothando Gedze. “But since 2017, we have been living next to leaking toilets.”
Protesters carried placards that read “We are sick and tired” and “We want houses now”. The protesters included parents of children from Noninzi primary school, who were burning tyres, trees and other rubble next to their children.
When police arrived, protester Mziwenkosi Tshanga told them: “We are not going to allow the passing of vehicles on this road. We want something valid from the municipality that states when they are going to build our houses.”
“We also have a bereavement. One of our own died on this road yesterday. We are not happy.”
Gedze said municipal officials did not answer calls. “These toilets we are living next to are decorations. They are not real toilets. The municipality did an assessment two months ago, but they are now playing hide and seek.”
The protesters sang “Asinalo uvalo ngalento siyenzayo” (We are not afraid of what we are doing) and “Amabhula’ amnyama andenzi wari” (Black boers make me worried).
Ward councillor Sabelo Mabuda (ANC) said he would report the death to the council. “If there were flush toilets in the area, the man would have been alive. I have also raised this concern with the municipality and officials.”
GroundUp has sent questions to municipal spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya. Answers will be added when they are received.
