MAYOR PAPIYANA MUST APOLOGISE FOR ‘SITES LIE’! Residents Vow to Fight After 14-Day Promise Vanishes Into Thin Air

Residents of Mlungisi informal settlements are calling for a public apology from Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality executive mayor, Madoda Papiyana, after he allegedly failed to deliver on his promise to hand over sites to them within 14 days.

The residents had submitted a petition in November and were expecting a written response, but instead, they were met with what they described as an unprepared human settlement portfolio head, Ongama Adonisi.

REHEARSED AND LACKING SUBSTANCE

In a meeting with Adonisi on Wednesday, community leader Baxolele Bango expressed frustration, saying Adonisi’s presentation seemed rehearsed and lacked substance.

“We need Papiyana here to come and answer to the petition. What you’ve just presented here is not what we expected,” Bango said.

Bango said residents also demand a public apology from Papiyana for lying to them.

The residents are demanding sites, water and electricity.

WE WANT SITES AND ELECTRICITY

Pheliwe Msophi from Nkwanca said: “We want sites and electricity. The meeting shows that Adonisi came here not prepared for it.”

She said Papiyana promised to hand over sites to them within 14 days from November 12, but that never happened.

“On November 12, we submitted a petition with the hope that the municipality will come with a written response to us, but that is not happening as we have to raise the same issues again,” she said.

24 YEARS WITHOUT ACCESS TO BASIC AMENITIES

Monica Fula, a resident from Marikana, shared her struggles, having lived in informal settlements for 24 years without access to basic amenities.

“I stayed in Joe Slovo and I thought moving to Marikana will make a difference but things are worse.

“We don’t have toilets and have only three taps for more than 1000 shacks. All we want is sites, we don’t care about brick houses we will build them,” said Fula.

Adonisi outlined the New Rathwick project, which will provide 3000 sites, but residents were skeptical, citing failed promises and lack of progress. The project will be done in phases, prioritizing informal settlements, child-headed households, military veterans, and backyard dwellers.

RESIDENTS DEMAND ANSWERS AND ACTION

The residents remain resolute, demanding answers and action from the municipality.

Lelethu Mfaku from Emabhangalweni said it looks like the municipality was dumping them in that place.

“The temporary houses are falling apart.The floor is rotten and the toilets are in a bad state. It looks like the municipality was dumping us in that place,” she said.

THE SITUATION REMAINS TENSE

The situation remains tense, with residents awaiting the municipality’s next move.

Responding to the residents Adonisi said he will respond to issues of the human settlement and can not respond to issues affecting technical services and other departments.

He defended those who did not come to the meeting stating that some had already taken leaves and could not make it to the meeting.

COUNCILLORS HAVE FAILED THEM

He outlined the issue of applying for a RDP house and what should residents do working with their councillors, however, residents said their councillors have failed them hence they decided to unite and fight alone residents.

“We have New Rathwick project which has 3000 sites but we can’t build houses without proper infrastructure. Now the underground infrastructure is complete and the process of building the houses will start in March next year led by the department of human settlement,” he said.

He said the project will be done in phases and not all will benefit from it .

“The priority is informal settlements, child headed household, military veterans and backyard dwellers,” he said.

The meeting agreed to have another meeting where the municipality will be responding to the petition and have all representatives of the affected departments.