These issues led to a protest on Friday morning with scores of residents barricading the Dr Belcher Road with burning tyres in the early morning hours. The chairperson of the Hostel 1 Committee, Pule Thakithi, says for over 20 years the community has been in need of toilets. He says things became more intense after the appointment of the current councillor, as their mobile toilets were taken away. Thakithi disregarded claims that they staged an attack on the councillor and even threw faeces outside the councillor’s home.

“We did not throw faeces at the councillor’s home, the only thing we did was to close off Dr Belcher Road with burning tyres to highlight issues that we have because the current councillor has been failing us since she was appointed. When we held a meeting with him and asked him to assist us with getting toilets, he told us he will bring a report. He came back with a report that says the municipality doesn’t have money. That’s what we didn’t understand as residents,” he adds.

Thakithi further adds that they also have housing issues that need serious attention. Meanwhile, Kagisho Rooman, who is also one of the residents, told OFM News that they were told to relocate to the Three Sisters area. She says that she won’t be able to move because her kids will be far from school and she won’t be able to afford transport, as she’s already living under the poverty line.

OFM News