Theewaterskloof |Bredasdorp | Napier
Year 2 • Tuesday 11 December 2012 | Tel. 028 214 1294
A group of protesters in front of the Caledon Town Hall demanded sanitation and electricity from Theewaterskloof Municipality on Thursday.
PHOTO: ANNETTE THERON
Fearful owners shut shop doors ANNETTE THERON Business owners in Caledon closed their doors on Thursday (6 December) when tear gas, used to disperse protesters in front of the town hall, caused a frantic scene in Plein Street. The illegal protest, attended by 150 residents of Zwelitsha, was peaceful at first, but the tourism bureau and traffic office’s windows were smashed after tear gas was used by police in an effort to disperse the crowd. Loud shouting erupted and protesters ran through Plein Street, prompting shop owners to close their doors. A shop manager said she tried to remain calm, but her heart was beating in her throat. “Pedestrians ran into our store because they were scared. I told everyone to remain calm. We waited until the crowd dispersed and then opened our doors and continued trading.” Another shop owner said that “just about everybody” in Plein Street closed their doors because they were scared. “I feared that my
shop windows might be broken and looting could occur, but the police response was most impressive and they managed to disperse the crowd.” No further property damage was reported. Protesters gathered at the town hall to demand basic services. The intersection at Vleiview was also blocked with burning debris. “The municipality moved us from Sitesaviwa to Zwelitsha and we are worse off. We will keep on protesting until we get toilets and electricity,” one protester said. Caroline Wood, chairperson of the Theewaterskloof Concerned Residents’ Committee, said that basic services such as sanitation are the responsibility of council and that the municipality is aware of the grievances of the residents of Zwelitsha. The committee received a letter on 30 November from Chris Punt, executive mayor, informing them that TWK had noted their concerns and most of them had been noted in the recent Integrated Development Plan (IDP) process. They will be included in the IDP and budget process and the municipality will give feed-
back to the public on the draft budget in April. Richard Velebayi, chairperson of the Zwelitsha Residents’ Committee, says residents are tired of empty promises by the municipality. “They said on 1 July 2012 a budget would be made available for housing. “They said money would be made available for basic services which would include water, toilets and temporary electricity. “There is currently only running water in Zwelitsha and no toilets. Residents are concerned about their safety as there are no street lights.” He says TWK is using the police to run away from the truth. “The people want answers, they are tired of empty promises and they are tired of peaceful marches, it is getting them nowhere.” Stiffie Cronjé, spokesperson for Theewaterskloof Municipality, says the municipality did communicate with residents about the relocation from Sitesaviwa to Zwelitsha. He says temporary standpipes for water have been installed and Power Construction had provided 15 toilets with the understanding that
the residents would take ownership of the toilets. Power Construction would service these toilets twice a week.” According to Cronje these toilets were subsequently set alight by the residents. He added that the municipality has started the process of installing basic services, but due to insufficient funds, this matter could now only be attended to in the next IDP. Velebayi also said residents are very unhappy with the arrest of two people during last week’s protest. “They demanded their immediate release but the police said they first have to appear in court on Friday morning.” He added that people were only fighting for their rights. “The feeling of the community is that all of them should have been arrested as they are all fighting for the same cause.” Lt Cyril Coetzee from the Caledon police said it was an illegal protest and that two people were arrested on a charge of public violence. “They appeared in court the next day and were released. Since then everything has been peaceful and the situation is being monitored.”
THE CALEDON
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2012 c e Sat 15 D
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