Staff Reporter.
Several roads in and around the Fleurhof area, near Florida, west of Johannesburg, have been blocked after residents took to the streets on Thursday to complain about poor service delivery in the area.
The residents of Ward 70 earlier warned they would be embarking on a two-day shutdown on Thursday and Friday.
Residents say they are fed-up with the government ignoring their requests for better service delivery.
“The shutdown is with regards to illegal mining that is happening behind our houses and also poor service delivery,” said one of the organisers of the protest, Selby Leshaba.
“We currently have a hostel that is harbouring criminals, illegal miners and drug lords. We also want the government to build up schools because our kids walk far to go to school, the clinic is far, and we need a police station.”
Leshaba said the unhappy resident will submit a memorandum to Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda so that “they can be able to carry our grievances and deliver to us what we are asking for”.
Johannesburg Metro Police says motorists travelling to the area expect delays. Spokesperson Xolani Fihla says they have deployed officers to redirect traffic.
“Roads going in and out of Fleurhof have been closed to traffic this morning and this is due to a shutdown by residents who are protesting over service delivery issues. Traffic leaving Soweto is also affected. But Main Reef Road is fully operational. There are officers monitoring the situation which is calm and officers are also monitoring all the other routes that can be affected.
Motorists leaving Soweto are advised to avoid help Mcgar Road and to use Elias Motsoaledi Road, the N17 or Soweto Highway or New Canada Road as alternate routes and officers will continue monitoring the area for any further disruptions.”
Compiled by Lehlohonolo Lehana.