By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
Angry residents who live in a section of Setjwetla known as Xitshova, vowed to make the area ungovernable.
A day has passed since residents embarked on a peaceful demonstration, calling for the return of building materials allegedly taken by the JMPD.
Angry residents accused ward 109 councillor Liaquad Ebrahim of having called the police to destroy more than five complete structures allegedly illegally built.
The structures were constructed in the vicinity of a formalized houses in Marlboro.
When Alex Reporter arrived this morning, the cars were forced to use alternative routes as the busy road was contaminated by litter, burning tryes and rocks, among other things.
Residents requested to be off camera. They said that they would harshly deal with the Councillor if he did not give them their materials.
” We can go to his house now and cause havoc. We know where his house is. We want the material he took from us through the JMPD,” one resident shouted.
“We no longer have water or electricity because of him. We don’t need that Indian anymore.
“He has been a councillor for a few months. He has now brought the name of the ANC into disrepute,” a member said.
A strong police presence kept an eye on the area.
“They must fix our houses. A brick is R6. How many R6 must I have in order to rebuild…… not working.
“This is not for the first time. And most of the houses they destroyed were complete.
“What must we do? All these houses in Setjwetla are illegal. Why did they come to us only… why didn’t they destroy all of them,” said another resident.
The police requested their patience and allow the meeting to be held at 3:00 pm today to solve the problem.
Yesterday, Ebrahim, affectionately known as Lee, was allegedly threatened when he went to the area.
“We wanted to manhandle the Councillor,” another resident said.
“Until they bring our material, nobody will vote in that area. I worked very hard on building materials.”
In 2019, more than two houses and a mini-substation were burned down by residents of Setljwetla, who now belong to the Maponyane Village .
Their rage was apparently triggered by the demolition of complete and incomplete structures by the Red Ants.
The former DA councillor, Werner Smit, resigned after being blamed and massively accused of calling the JMPD.
The mayor of Johannesburg at the time, Herman Mashaba, distanced himself from the demolition, stating that he had never sent anyone to demolish the structures.
Ebrahim was not reached for comment.
