JERUSALEM – In a dramatic turn of events, residents of Jerusalem Village in Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality (EMLM) Ward 21, took to the streets on Wednesday 1 April 2026, blocking the R579 Road with stones and burning tyres, protesting against poor service delivery.
According to residents, the protest was sparked by EMLM’s failure to address the community’s grievances despite multiple attempts to submit their memorandum of demands.
EMLM Ward 21 Councillor, Mpho Maphopha, told the publication that residents had made multiple attempts to engage with EMLM, submitting three march applications, but the municipality failed to send a delegate to receive their memorandum.
“The community became frustrated and angry. They said the protested because they have been ignored for far too long. Our streets are in disrepair, our water is undrinkable, and our children are forced to cross a dangerous bridge to get to school. Residents demand answers from EMLM, and they are insisting they will not stop until the municipality listens,” Maphopha said.
Maphopha explained that the community’s grievances include the poor state of Mokwana Street, which has been washed out by recent rains, making it unsafe for pedestrians and motorists.
“The community is also concerned about the inadequate water purification plant, which is resulting in water that may be unsafe for drinking,” he said.
Maphopha added that the community is also frustrated with the lack of progress on the boreholes in Motsephiri and Kgaphamadi, with another borehole in Motsephiri New Stand remaining unequipped and non-functional since 2016.
“The boreholes in Motsephiri and Kgaphamadi are incomplete, with no clear timeline for completion,” informed Maphopha.
He said the low-level bridge connecting Motsephiri New Stand and Jerusalem is also a major concern, as it presents safety risks for school-children and general users.
“The bridge does not meet safety or accessibility standards and is not usable by some people with disabilities,” Maphopha said.
Furthermore, several households in Motsephiri New Stand lack electricity, while surrounding areas are electrified.
“This inequality fosters unsafe, unauthorized connections and undermines the dignity and development of residents,” said Maphopha.
The community is also concerned about the perceived concentration of municipal and government programmes in a single area, with residents feeling that their ward is neglected.
Maphopha stated that the community is seeking timely, transparent, and accountable governance in line with constitutional rights to health, water, electricity, access roads, and basic services.
The protest seemed to have taken EMLM by surprise, with MMC for Infrastructure Services, Cllr Rhodes Msiza, attended to the community to receive the memorandum after the protest had already begun.
The memorandum outlines the community’s specific grievances and demands, including immediate assessment and rehabilitation of Mokwana Street, technical assessment and upgrade of the water treatment facility, completion of boreholes in Motsephiri and Kgaphamadi and upgrade or replacement of the low-level bridge.
Residents also demand electrification of Motsephiri New Stand households, equitable distribution of municipal programmes and opportunities, independent audit of opportunities and implementation of an inclusive youth empowerment strategy.
The municipality was given 14 working days to respond to the grievances.
“If the community is not satisfied with EMLM’s response, we will mobilize and return to the streets until we get the responses we are expecting,” warned one of the concerned residents.
At the time of going to press, Elias Motsoaledi Municipality couldn’t respond to the publication’s enquiries.