Burning tyres and rocks brought parts of Johannesburg South to a standstill on Monday morning as frustrated Meriting residents barricaded Provincial Road and the K43, demanding urgent intervention over long-standing service-delivery problems. The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that both routes were affected by the protest action.
The protest began at around 3am on 14 September, with residents from Meriting Phase 2 taking to the streets to voice their frustrations over what they said had been years of inadequate service delivery. One of the protest leaders, Meriting resident Papi Mohapi, said residents were not prepared to back down and would continue demonstrating until they received a response from the MMC responsible for Human Settlements, Cllr Mlungisi Mabaso.
Mohapi said the community’s frustrations had built up over several years, particularly over the difference in services between Phase 1 and Phase 2.Residents said households in Phase 1 had access to water and electricity, while those living in Phase 2 continued to live without the same basic services. According to residents, the lack of formal electricity infrastructure had left many households dependent on informal connections from residents who have electricity. They claimed that households were being charged between R250 and R300 for these connections.
Residents also raised serious concerns about the safety of the electrical connections, saying exposed wires were scattered throughout parts of the settlement. They claimed that the wires carried dangerously high levels of electricity and that people could receive severe electric shocks even through contact with nearby structures. Residents further alleged that several people had died as a result of electrical shocks in the area. One community member told Globe Post that their brother died after suffering an electric shock last year, adding to calls for authorities to address what residents described as a dangerous electricity situation, for residents, the issue extends beyond electricity. They said they wanted proper water infrastructure, electricity, sanitation and other basic municipal services rather than having to depend on unsafe alternatives.
The protest continued on Tuesday, 15 September, after residents said they had still not received the response they were seeking.Police were deployed to the area as tensions escalated, with tear gas used during the unrest and some arrests reportedly made.The road blockades affected motorists travelling through the area, with authorities advising motorists to avoid the affected sections and use alternative routes. Ward Councillor Puseletso Ndzimande was approached during the protest for comment. She stated that she did not support the protest but did not comment further on the residents’ grievances.
Despite the intervention by law enforcement, residents maintained that their concerns remained unresolved. Globe Post reporter Mpho Joy Khumalo contacted MMC spokesperson Sbonelo Mtshali for comment on the protest and the residents’ demands. Mtshali confirmed that the MMC was aware of the protest action. He said officials would request a meeting with the ward councillor to discuss the situation and determine a way forward. The municipality also indicated that engagement with the affected community would form part of the process.
For Meriting Phase 2 residents, however, the central issue remains the same: they want answers and concrete action on the provision of water, electricity, sanitation and other basic services. Residents continue to wait for meaningful engagement with municipal authorities and clarity on how and when their long-standing service-delivery concerns will be addressed.
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