CONCERN: Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle and NMB mayor Danny Jordaan. PICTURE: EUGENE COETZEE
EASTERN Cape premier Phumulo Masualle said Walmer Township was receiving his undivided attention.
The Port Elizabeth suburb descended into a raging battleground on Thursday as thousands of protesting residents clashed violently with police.
Looters ran amok, vandalising buildings and homes, and forcing the closure of businesses.
Addressing the media at the Uitenhage town hall yesterday, Masualle said he regretted the destruction of property and disruption of people’s lives.
“We are concerned and we are doing everything . . . it has always been a challenge with receiving housing,” he said.
“We are noting a pattern of intensification of these actions but Walmer is receiving our undivided attention.”
Protests have also taken place recently in Kenton-on-Sea, Ginsberg and Ugie.
“There are a number of factors that contribute to this but certainly where it is a genuine service delivery concern we will work with the people . . . surely it cannot be done through destruction . . . our doors are open.”
Masualle was in the Bay for a Women’s Day event in KwaLanga township.
Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Danny Jordaan was a guest speaker at the KwaLanga event but he did not address the media.
He said the elusive waiting list for RDP houses in the Bay was quickly becoming a problem.
“People tell me they are number one on the housing list and then next month they are not. Who is manipulating this list? I want to have that list so it can go in The Herald,” he said.
“That is what you voted for . . . a government that is transparent, and does not change decisions when you are sleeping . . . we must stop it.”
All was quiet yesterday, with most of the burnt debris cleaned up in and around Walmer Township.
ANC Ward 4 councillor Nomajama Benya said yesterday community leaders and municipal officials would drive to Bhisho on Tuesday to meet with the Eastern Cape Human Settlements Department.
“This will help everyone understand what has caused the delay in the building of houses.”
The protests were fuelled by Walmer Township Area Q residents’ anger over title deeds they received in 2011 for RDP houses that were never built.
They complained that they had since been receiving water bills from the municipality, even though they did not have homes.
Protesters refused to supply Weekend Post with copies of the bills and title deeds.
The Walmer Country Club and a number of shops were ransacked and vandalised on Thursday.
Five arrests were made and three people, including a police officer, were injured.
The officer accidentally shot himself in the foot.
-Siyamtanda Capa, Siphokuhle Mkancu and Yoliswa Sobuwa
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