Frustrated Brown's Farm community leaders and Cape Town city councillors meet this week to discuss service delivery problems after protests this weekend led to clashes with police officers.
Residents of the Philippi informal settlement, frustrated with a lack of basic services, blocked two roads with burning tyres, rubbish skips, portable toilets and rocks.
"We don't have electricity, we don't have water, we don't have toilets, we don't have houses," said community leader Ntlala Kamteni.
He said residents had arranged to meet local councillor Moses Baskiti on Sunday morning but he had not been able to provide answers about when they would be provided with housing and services.
"The land there is privately owned; the city is still negotiating with the owner to buy the land. I had a meeting with them, explained this to them and said the city would get back to them," Baskiti said.
The follow-up meeting is scheduled for Thursday.
Angry and frustrated community members blockaded the road to show how "desperate" they were, but Baskiti said he explained to them this would not solve the problem or change the situation.
Kamteni said: "When we talk, they do nothing. We left there peacefully but the police opened fire on us. The police shot many people."
Police fired rubber bullets into the crowd to disperse the protesting community members. One of the people caught in the crossfire, Colin Mdlutha, was shot in the leg.
"We didn't do anything. We were just standing here. The police just came to shoot us," he said as he rolled up his trouser to show the bleeding wound.
Said police spokesperson Ntomboxolo Sitshitshi: "Officers had to shoot rubber bullets to control the people, because they were uncontrollable. They were damaging the toilets."
She said police officers had not injured anyone during the shooting.
Residents gathered amid rubbish and toilets turned onto its sides in the closed road on Sunday afternoon to discuss their grievances.
"We want to complain to Zuma. We voted for him - he can give us houses, he can give us electricity. This is the first time we are doing this, now we are sick and tired," said Nokuzola Magazi.
- The Cape Times
Residents of the Philippi informal settlement, frustrated with a lack of basic services, blocked two roads with burning tyres, rubbish skips, portable toilets and rocks.
"We don't have electricity, we don't have water, we don't have toilets, we don't have houses," said community leader Ntlala Kamteni.
He said residents had arranged to meet local councillor Moses Baskiti on Sunday morning but he had not been able to provide answers about when they would be provided with housing and services.
"The land there is privately owned; the city is still negotiating with the owner to buy the land. I had a meeting with them, explained this to them and said the city would get back to them," Baskiti said.
The follow-up meeting is scheduled for Thursday.
Angry and frustrated community members blockaded the road to show how "desperate" they were, but Baskiti said he explained to them this would not solve the problem or change the situation.
Kamteni said: "When we talk, they do nothing. We left there peacefully but the police opened fire on us. The police shot many people."
Police fired rubber bullets into the crowd to disperse the protesting community members. One of the people caught in the crossfire, Colin Mdlutha, was shot in the leg.
"We didn't do anything. We were just standing here. The police just came to shoot us," he said as he rolled up his trouser to show the bleeding wound.
Said police spokesperson Ntomboxolo Sitshitshi: "Officers had to shoot rubber bullets to control the people, because they were uncontrollable. They were damaging the toilets."
She said police officers had not injured anyone during the shooting.
Residents gathered amid rubbish and toilets turned onto its sides in the closed road on Sunday afternoon to discuss their grievances.
"We want to complain to Zuma. We voted for him - he can give us houses, he can give us electricity. This is the first time we are doing this, now we are sick and tired," said Nokuzola Magazi.
- The Cape Times
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