Philippi East residents protest for basic services

A SERVICE delivery protest by residents of Loyiso Nkohla Village brought traffic to a standstill on one of Cape Town's busiest highways yesterday morning, as community members demanded access to electricity and other basic services.

- MANDILAKHE TSHWETE

The protest, which involved about 80 residents, blocked the R300 freeway near Stock Road before being dispersed by police. The community, previously relocated from railway tracks in Philippi East, said they had run out of patience after more than two years of waiting for formal services.

Residents were moved to the site on Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) land more than two years after they built informal dwellings on the rail line during the COVID-19 lockdown, prompting Prasa to shut down the Cape Flats and Central lines.

The relocation was meant to be temporary. Community leader Lizo Dlamini said: “When Prasa relocated us, it was said that we would be here for 18 months. It has now been more than two years.