Still no power for residents
May 07 2008 02:07:56:213PM  - (SA)  
Papi Tshabalala

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Considering the recently effected increase in paraffin prices and the chilly Eastern Free State winter the poor residents say they cannot take it any more.

According to them, they had spoken to their ward councillor, Tsie Ramakarane, who made empty promises.

Last year, MAP municipality speaker Mama Motloung had to come to Mandela Park to calm the residents.

Mandela Park is mostly an informal settlement that has some government-subsidized low-cost houses and has been in existence for more than seven years.

The main complaint of section 3 residents is the fact that their section is the only one still without electricity even though they have been complaining for more than a year.

“We have been complaining about the electricity for as long as we can remember.

“Our councillor seems to care less about us, because despite the number of protests we have had to date nothing has been done to address our plight.

“Maluti a Phofung (municipality) knows about our problem, but they are reluctant to help us,” said an angry Madiepetsane Mokoena, a resident of the area.

Another resident, Masiu Mohlapo, told Express Qwaqwa that he was unemployed and that he was in need of electricity, while Nolwazi Tshabalala said as residents they went to the MAP municipality offices where they were told to pay R1 600.

“The majority of our people are unemployed and though this money is too much, we have agreed as residents to pay. They should first supply us with electricity and then we will pay the money in halves,” Tshabalala said.

Ramakarane told Express Qwaqwa that the delay was due to the fact that they were waiting for the electricity allocation at national level. He said he did not know whether his ward would be among those to receive electricity.

Interestingly he said if his ward was “lucky”, then the residents would benefit.

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