Violence flares up again in Tembisa
Violence flared up again in Tembisa on Wednesday, with an angry group of residents demanding to be addressed by Ekhuruleni Mayor Tania Campbell.
The demand comes despite her commitment to giving residents feedback on their grievances on Friday.
Residents attending the community meeting, which was called by Gauteng Cooperative Governance MEC Lebogang Maile at the Mehlareng Stadium, chanted slogans while leaving before some began reinstating barricades from Monday’s deadly protest, redirecting traffic and burning tyres on the road.
Earlier on Wednesday, Campbell said she was working with various departments in the municipality to collate information so she can give an informed response to residents’ demands.
“As a mayor of the city, it is my duty to listen to our residents in conjunction with our councillors and city officials. We have set a feedback meeting that will take place on Friday. We have meetings with the community forum themselves, but even with the feedback meetings and the meetings that we’ve had with the forum there seem to be external issues that have driven the riots to be out of control.”
Community leaders have blamed the destructive violence on opportunistic criminals who were clouding genuine service delivery concerns in the area.
There were obvious divisions between residents attending the gathering, with some calling for officials to be given an opportunity to provide an update on their grievances.
“It’s because some people drink before attending meetings. How will we know what to ask the mayor when she comes on Friday?” asked one woman.
Meanwhile, police have maintained a heavy presence with police nyalas and metro police vehicles patrolling the streets.
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