By Bev Mortimer:
Mixed reactions have been forthcoming following the 4 hour march and demonstration by about 200 residents on the R330, the only access road to St Francis Bay, in which motorists were prevented from entering or leaving the St Francis area on 18 May.
Representatives from the departments of Public Works and Transport are expected in Sea Vista tomorrow to hold the first of a series of meetings with community leaders to find ways on how to remedy the grievances experienced by residents in this area.
The march organisers were satisfied with getting a response to their demonstrations in which they burnt rubber tyres and branches and formed three barricades between the Sand River bridge and the rubbish tip. But not everyone was happy with the march. Some St Francis Bay residents were upset, venting thier comments on FB.
Organisers though believe the march, which was held to protest lack of housing and poor service delivery was successful in that residents have now been taken seriously. They say they were not taken seriously by the government when they peacefully marched 5 kms to Cape St Francis to deliver their grievances at the home of their Ward Councillor.
Organisers now hope the government representatives will commit themselves to assisting Sea Vista residents in improving their living conditions. The meeting tomorrow follows a two-hour meeting after the march held in the Sea Vista hall. Present were Kouga Mayor, Booi Koerat, the MEC for Education, Mandla Makapula and community leaders.
While 80% of the marchers demonstrated peacefully, there was a small, unruly element that had to continually be brought in line by the organisers. The former took it upon themselves to stone the fire engine that came to put out the fires at the barricades, plus some road signs were pulled down and damaged.
According to Mfundo Mbele, media liaison at Kouga municipality several issues were raised at the meeting in the post march meeting in the Sea Vista hall on 18 May.
“The main issue was lack of housing. Residents of the Kosovo and Zwelitsha informal settlements want their dwellings to be made formal plots in order for them to receive service like residents in formal dwellings. The land they are occupying belongs to the Department of Public Works.
“Though initially there was a dispute between the provincial and the national spheres as it relates to the ownership of the land, both the Minister Thulas Nxesi and MEC Thandiwe Marau have agreed that they will facilitate the transfer of the land for the municipality to start with the necessary processes.
“The municipality will, this week, put up six new communal taps and four chemical toilets in the area. The municipality has committed itself to facilitating the various meetings and responses between the community and the various departments.”
Mfundo also says that other issues raised at Sea Vista meeting included the reported damage to signboards at the entrance of St Francis Bay and that some of them are missing.
Then the issue of sufficient and proper scholar transport was raised. Education MEC Mandla Makapula, will be meeting with the community leaders to discuss the issue of inadequate scholar transport.
Another issue was that of police brutality. “The station commander for St Francis Bay, Captain Kieviet will bring forward names of police officers who are alleged to be abusive to people in Sea Vista, whether verbally or physically,” Mfundo added.
Yesterday, 20 May, the St Francis Bay Residents’ Association (SFBRA) made an appeal to the residents of Sea Vista: “While we are supportive of their plight we are totally opposed to any form of protest which involves damage to property, such as the stoning of our one and only fire engine, the burning of street signs, and damaging of roads,” the SFBRA said in a statement. “We also appeal to people not to carry dangerous weapons and most importantly to take into consideration the affect they are having on other residents in St Francis.
“A number of residents missed flights out of Port Elizabeth as well as doctors’ appointments and one resident and his wife of Sea Vista were unable to get to Humansdorp where their son is gravely ill.
“As recently as last Tuesday, we presented concerns about the 2013/14 budget at a full council meeting and also reiterated concerns about the appalling conditions under which residents of Sea Vista have to live. We appeal to those that organised this march to take the above into consideration when considering any future service delivery action. We also appeal to the residents of Sea Vista to work with us to improve their plight.”
Several St Francis Bay residents criticised the damage to property while others felt sorry for Sea Vista residents and understood their anger. Other residents were upset their plans and appointments for out of town that morning had to be cancelled.
(edited)
See: original articles and photos of the march and demonstration:
https://stfrancischronicle.com/2013/05/18/sea-vista-marchers-block-entrance-to-st-francis-bay/
https://stfrancischronicle.com/2013/05/18/sea-vista-marchers-dispersing-and-vacating-the-r330/
Follow St Francis Chronicle on Twitter: @stfranchronicle
All articles edited or written, all photos taken plus all adverts designed by the Editor and printed in the St Francis Chronicle are protected by the law of Copyright ©. Reproduction or copying of any part of the contents of this newspaper and its concept and design can only be done with the Editor’s written permission.
St Francis Chronicle 
Informative and balanced article.