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Mariannhill erupts over poor service delivery

Durban - About 1 000 residents from the Luganda settlement in Durban's Mariannhill area took to the streets on Tuesday morning to protest against poor service delivery.

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Police used teargas to disperse the angry residents, some of whom set alight the Luganda Community Resource Centre.

The road was strewn with rocks and debris and protesters were burning tyres.

Police had to call in reinforcements and by 10:00 there was an uneasy stand-off as the public order policing unit and metro police kept control of the area around the burning hall.

Police brought in the water cannon and used it to douse the flames of the burning hall.

Angry

An angry Sandra Geduld complained that police had used teargas where there were children.

"We have no water but they have water to spray us."

She said residents were angry that their councillor had never attempted to meet residents and hear their concerns.

"He don't come for meetings and if he does he lies and tells us shit."

She said he was an ANC councillor and she only knew his name as Mdu.

Several women complained that when the municipality did deliver water by tanker they received dirty water that made them and their children sick.

Community meeting

Ward 13 councillor Mduduzi Gumede told News24 he has informed the municipality about the community’s grievances.

He said a community meeting will be held at the Luganda sport’s stadium on Sunday.

“In March we held a meeting with the community of ward 13 where they raised all of these issues. I told them that I have reported their concerns to the office of the mayor,” said Gumede.

He said some of the grievances raised by the community included vacant sites.

“The problem is that there is vacant land and the land has owners who have title deeds. They also complained about water but there is water in the area. I woke up at 04:00 this morning [Tuesday] and asked them why they were protesting because their grievances were being dealt with. I will address them on Sunday,” said Gumede.

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