Two trucks carrying cement were earlier today set alight by angry residents during a service delivery protest over a lack of water in Blydeville outside Lichtenburg in the North West.
One of the residents, Ben Ntsaku, said their taps have been dry for almost 2 years now.
“We are not happy about the violence that happens in this place, but it seems like it’s the only language that the government understands. We need services, there is no service delivery at all in this area.
“We have not had running water for almost two years now. There is sewage spillage everywhere on the streets. The toilets in our households are in a bad condition and no one seems to listen to us,” charged Ntsaku.
Lesego Mogotlwane shared the same sentiments and told Newsnote people are just frustrated because they have been struggling to get clean running water for a while.
“That is why you see what is happening here now. People are just frustrated. The youth is unemployed, there is no service delivery. No one is taking responsibility for all this.
“The municipality council was disbanded and we just hear about political squabbles when we are suffering on the ground. One minute you will hear about the new mayor, and one minute you hear that she has resigned.
“Currently, I don’t even know if this is a mayor, and we don’t care, we just want services. We are currently experiencing a heat wave. Imagine what it’s like for us without water. Are we supposed to die out of thirst?” she asked?
While Olebogeng Moatshe said there are no developments in the area and when residents raise issues about service delivery or lack thereof, nobody listens..
“There is really nothing here in Blydeville, there are no developments. And even when residents try to raise genuine issues no one is willing to listen. We go without water for days. Children complete school just to stay home,” Moatshe said.
However, Ngaka Modiri Molema District Mayor, Khumalo Molefe, refuted claims that the protest was about water.
“We want to place it on record that the protest action at Blydeville has got nothing to do with water as reported. It has got everything to do with what looks like a dispute between the Blydeville community and Afrisam Company,” Molefe said.
North West police spokesperson, Captain Aafje Botman, said no one was arrested in the protest, and police are monitoring the area.
