GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Residents from the Vrygronde informal settlement have embarked on another peaceful protest during which the N9 was blocked from about 05:00 am up until about 11:00 am on Tuesday.
As was the case with the previous peaceful protest on 19 February. This protest was motivated by the fact that the Dr Beyers Naude Local Municipality (DBNLM) continues to ignore the plight of members of this community who are crippled by human rights violations.
In an attempt to mediate, ANC Councilor for Ward 4, Xolile Galada, accompanied by Lieutenant Colonel Abrahams and her team from the Graaff-Reinet SAPS, addressed the Vrygronde leadership.
Galada mentioned that, even though he understands that people are frustrated, he is unfamiliar with their issues. He, therefore, requested the leadership to explain what their issues are, what they were promised and what the timeframes attached to these promises were, for them to see how best these issues can be resolved by those who are in a position to take decisions.
Photos: Hugo Redelinghuys
Moses Elias, a member of the Vrygronde leadership structure, emphasized the fact that he finds the councillor's request for information on their issues very confusing since several attempts have already been made to bring their issues to the attention of the decision-makers.
The leadership structures of the Vrygronde (Graaff-Reinet) and Koeikamp (Nieu Bethesda) informal settlements, as well as the Graaff-Reinet Action Committee, submitted four memoranda outlining their concerns to the DBNLM during 2020/2021.
On 26 August 2020, ANC Councilor for Ward 6, Thembile Tshona committed that he will respond to the Vrygronde grievances within one month. However, there has been no official communication regarding any processes that will be followed to address the challenges of the Vrygronde community.
The leadership, therefore, finds it frustrating that Councilor Tshona requested another meeting of a similar nature on 11 May in an attempt to diffuse the situation on the N9.
Elias wanted to know how local government cannot recognize its own people. "Is it because we are living in shacks that we don't belong to the same government?"
He says that none of the members of the ANC bothered to visit Vrygronde for the past two years that he has been a resident there and for this reason the community has decided to organise themselves.
"Vrygronde is tired now. Vrygronde is standing up for its rights now. All doors have been closed and now we are knocking on doors that we consider suitable."
According to Councilor Galada, the person who promised the Vrygronde community that there will be infrastructure development has not been honest with them. He claims that there can never be any infrastructure development in that area since it forms part of the catchment area for the Nqweba Dam.
Residents of the Vrygronde informal settlement have embarked on another peaceful protest on Tuesday, demanding the realization of their socio-economic rights.
The Vrygronde community finds this hard to believe. Previously they were told that there cannot be any infrastructure development since the land belongs to South African National Parks.
The Service Delivery Movement (SDM) has proven this to be untrue. The best way forward in this regard, according to Councilor Galada, is that an independent feasibility study needs to be conducted to eliminate the confusion. This should be paid for by the DBNLM. Councilor Galada committed himself to take this proposal forward.
Several political parties, including the ANC, SDM and PA could be seen at the protest and at the Vrygronde community meeting after the protest.
The leadership of the Vrygronde community made it clear that Vrygronde is not a political playing field and that their issues are social and not political. They emphasised the fact that they are not interested in party politics since Vrygronde is a diverse community with members who support different political parties.
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