The residents of Grobler Park have tried everything they can to get help from the municipality but their concerns are not being considered.
According to the residents, they are struggling with illegal connections because residents of the Mhlangeni informal settlement connect to the mini stations and underground cables, which has a negative impact on the supply to the residents.
For over three months, they have also been battling with an overflowing sewer. Residents stated that they have reported these issues to the municipality on numerous occasions but the queries have not been resolved, all they get is reference numbers, and no help, from the municipality.
“There is no rest for Grobler Park, if it’s not a power outage due to illegal connections then it is sewer problems. The municipality is failing us and the saddest part is that we are paying for services,” said Segolo Ramorola.
“Joburg Water tried to fix the sewer problem but they were unsuccessful because the area where the blockage is is criss-crossed with illegal connection wires and if they touch them, they will get electrocuted. When City Power came to cut the connections, they were stopped by violent residents from the settlement, who just reconnected them again. So we sit with two problems. What must happen first before these problems are fixed, because the community is really frustrated?” asked Lungelwa Qwanti.
The Ward 71 councillor, René Benjamin, has had meetings with the residents to address both problems.
It was suggested that a coordinated team from JMPD, City Power and Joburg Water is needed to resolve this matter, because as soon as City Power cuts the cables, the people from the informal settlement retaliate by throwing rocks and firing shots at the officials. JMPD is required in order to protect the officials from City Power and Joburg Water while they work on cutting the cables and repairing the sewer.
The Record journalist contacted JMPD, City Power and Joburg Water for comment, but none of the officials responded. The residents remain angry.
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