On Sunday evening a message of a planned shutdown in Botshabelo surfaced on social media platforms. It’s understood residents are not happy with the system used by councillors and Mangaung Mayor Gregory Nthatisi to allocate sites for residents.

This led to unrest and escalated tension on Monday morning between authorities and residents in Botshabelo's informal settlements next to the N8 road in the Free State.

The acting premier of Forum 4 Service Delivery (F4SD), Potso Motoko, said residents of N8 Park at Botshabelo embarked on a protest, demanding that ward councillors and Sanco stop deterring the process of them receiving their residential sites.

Residents of Mangaung have recently been gripped by protests and demonstrations, with residents demanding immediate action from the municipality and provincial government. They want the issues of inadequate housing, basic services, and economic opportunities to be addressed. Thousands of people in informal settlements continue to suffer from overcrowding, lack of sanitation facilities, and limited access to water and electricity.

“It is very bad to see police officers being used by politicians to oppress our people in a democratic society. Our people are always silenced by the police to protect the government and the executive's failure to address the genuine issues of our people,” Motoko said.

The minister of Human Settlements, Mmamoloko Kubayi, last year said over R50 million has been allocated under an urban development grant for residents of Botshabelo and around R60 million for informal settlement upgrading.

Motoko said some members of the community were injured and one resident was allegedly shot and taken to a local hospital. He further alleged most of the people who were apprehended were in their shacks when police entered their homes, started to assault them, and arrested them. OFM News has sent an inquiry to the police and municipality.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg