Residents of Braamfischerville in Soweto are expressing frustration with the lack of basic services in their community, including overflowing sewers, blocked sewer drains, gravel roads, and abandoned projects. The area is also plagued by a strong stench of sewage, making life difficult for residents. Many have been without water for a long time, and some have stated they would prefer to remain without it due to the sewage problems it causes.
The sewage problems have become so severe that residents are unable to drive into their properties, forcing them to park their cars in their neighbors' yards. Some have even been forced to abandon their homes or find alternative places to cook, bathe, and carry out other basic daily activities. Residents have accused their councillor of being unresponsive to their problems and are seeking tools to fix the problems themselves due to the municipality's failure to provide services.
Residents have expressed disillusionment with the voting process, stating that despite voting for many years, they have seen no changes in their community. A resident, Thabo, described voting as "signing a death certificate," saying that democracy has only benefited a few individuals. Thabo also mentioned that he had tried to address illegal dumping by creating miniparks, but people continued to dump their rubbish, and when reported to the police, they were told it was none of their business.
Abandoned projects are visible in the area, including pipes left behind by a contractor who claimed the city had not paid him. The contractor had been using his own money to pay his employees, leading to the project's abandonment. Mandla Masango, a resident, stated that the sewage problem started a couple of months after he arrived in the area seven years ago and that they have been without water and electricity ever since.
Masango shared that he has to go to his family home in the nearby township of Dobsonville to bathe and cook a meal before returning to Braamfischerville in the evening. Many residents have to do the same, and some have even abandoned their homes. The lack of electricity has been a long-standing issue, and residents are concerned that it has contributed to an increase in crime in the area.
Residents of Orange Farm have raised similar concerns about conditions in their township, stating that they see little reason to vote in the upcoming local government elections. The Democratic Alliance has chosen Helen Zille as its mayoral candidate, while ActionSA has fielded its president and former mayor Herman Mashaba. Other parties, including the African Transformation Movement and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, have also fielded candidates.
The upcoming local government elections in Johannesburg are expected to see at least 80 political parties contesting. The ANC has yet to announce its mayoral candidate but appears poised to play a significant role in forming coalitions. The DA has made it clear that it will not work with the EFF or the MK Party, describing them as threats to democracy, while Mashaba has expressed willingness to work with any party except those that protect illegal immigrants or serve particular factions of society.
Key points
- Residents of Braamfischerville face severe sewage problems, lack of water and electricity, and an unresponsive councillor.
- The area has seen abandoned projects, including a sewage and water project left unfinished due to payment issues.
- Residents are expressing disillusionment with the voting process, citing a lack of change in their community despite years of voting.
