FLEURHOF EXT. COMMUNITY SHUTS DOWN MAIN REEF ROAD IN SERVICE DELIVERY PROTEST

Fleurhof Community Protest

By Ml Luqman Skink, INX Prime News and Current Affairs Editor

Protest Image 1

This week, residents of Fleurhof extension in Roodeport staged a service delivery protest and shut down parts of the Main Reef Road. The community says they feel undermined by the government and developers, Calgro M3, for not fulfilling promises to build schools, a clinic, or a police station.

Protest Image 2

The Fleurhof Extension 2 RDP housing development was handed over to beneficiaries in January this year by then Joburg Executive Mayor, Kabelo Gwamanda.

’STALLED DISCUSSION LED TO FRUSTRATIONS’

Speaking to INX Prime, community leader Selby Loshaba said discussions between the community, the developers, and the government stalled because the developer, Calgro M3, was not negotiating in good faith. This resulted in the community deciding to shut down the area until the government heard their grievances.

NO SCHOOLS IN FLEURHOF COMMUNITY

Leshaba said because most residents in the area are unemployed and living in poverty, they cannot be expected to travel to Florida in order to access vital services like schools, clinics, and police stations. "If any resident called the SAPS, you will find that police only arrive 24 hours later," he said. In January, members of the community stormed the education department’s district office after their children were rejected by Florida Park High School.

Protest Image 3

RESIDENTS TOLD TO BUY LAND TO BUILD A SCHOOL

Leshaba said the 4 hectares of land offered to the community to build their own school was excessively priced at R50 million, pointing out that the money could not be raised by poor community members. "Government is failing to deliver services, but we need to draw the line with the developer whose only concern is profits. What are they doing for CSI and why can’t they just donate that land to the community?"

’CRIME IS OUT OF CONTROL’

In a recent incident, a woman was shot and killed while boarding a bus to work at 6 AM. Leshaba said that crime is so bad in the area that residents stay indoors after sunset, and homes are broken into whenever people leave for the weekend to visit relatives. "We are seeing people being murdered on our streets, and nobody is saying anything about it," he said. He added that the community is too large to rely on the nearby police station in Florida, which cannot properly serve its own area.

THE UNFULFILLED PROMISES BY POLITICIANS

Leshaba said the handing over of RDP house keys in January was merely a window-dressing exercise, as issues raised by the community have been ignored by politicians. "The problem with politicians in South Africa is empty promises. I have personally asked Gwamanda to resolve the outstanding issues, but until today, we have not had a single meeting."

’PROTESTS WILL CONTINUE’

Leshaba said the community is determined to maintain pressure on the government and ensure that the developer is held accountable. He added that more shutdowns have not been ruled out. "If the developer thinks he can build, we as the community will tear down those buildings and dig up those foundations. We will do this even if we get arrested, and we won’t stop until they do the right thing."

’COMMUNITY HAS LOST ALL PATIENCE’

Leshaba pointed out that the community had been waiting since 2010 for their demands to be met, and in the ten years since, they have not seen any changes. He stated that protest seems to be the only language the authorities understand, and it will therefore be the one used by Fleurhof residents going forward.

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