Gauteng welcomes suspension of Bekkersdal protests, announces intervention measures
In the last two weeks, Westonaria has experienced service delivery protests. The non-viability of the Westonaria Local Municipality has had an impact on the provision of basic services.
Speaking to journalists in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane said there were two issues that government needed to deal with.
"Firstly, we need to stabilise Westonaria especially Bekkersdal so that there is normalcy for the residents; and secondly, we must ensure that matric exams are not interrupted. That is why, I issued a directive to the MEC for Education that the learners must be moved to a location where they will feel safe and write exams like any other learner in the Province," said Mokonyane.
Premier Mokonyane said it must be noted that Bekkersdal falls under the Westonaria Local Municipality with over 40 000 households, of which 16 000 are in informal settlements.
In Bekkersdal alone there are 13 000 informal households. A large number of these are indigent. The database of indigent is not entirely complete because of the transient nature of informal settlements. As a result, the municipality has been struggling to provide much needed basic services, such as water, sanitation and refuse removal.