Hillbrow | Atteridgeville | Melusi

On the morning of Wednesday, 8th May 2024, Melusi residents protested against ongoing service delivery failures. The demonstrations caused major disruptions, blocking main streets and halting traffic. Fieldworkers were prevented from reporting to work as protesters forced them to join the strike. Authorities quickly responded to manage the situation.

The protest was sparked by residents resorting to illegal electricity connections due to the lack of proper services. SAPS and Metro Police were called to dismantle these illegal connections, affecting the nearby Booysens suburb. Booysens residents have been without electricity for two weeks because a transformer blew out, a result of the illegal connections from Melusi. Community leaders expressed their frustration, noting that the mayor had promised to address the service delivery issues. However, with no visible progress, tensions and unrest have increased among residents.

Fortunately, no injuries occurred during the protests and police actions. However, the situation is becoming critical, necessitating urgent intervention to prevent further disruptions and risks. Melusi residents are demanding immediate action to resolve service delivery issues and restore normalcy.

It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of community leader Selaelo Mafa Mamabolo. A devoted husband, father of three, and brother to GRT-Inspired fieldworker Mosibudi Mamabolo, Mr. Mamabolo left an indelible mark through his 15+ years of service in Melusi. As a prominent SANCO member, Mr. Mamabolo’s acts positively impacted many lives. When break-ins plagued the Melusi Clinic, he rallied community night patrols to ensure safety. His collaborative efforts with residents led to the construction of secure palisade fencing around the clinic premises.

A routine data collection job at Fontana’s High Point high-rise turned into a scene of alarming urban decay and safety hazards. As the GRT-I field team entered the building, they encountered burnt-out units, abandoned belongings, and an atmosphere of ruin. 

As part of our community engagement efforts, the GRT-Inspired team, along with 11 Community Engagement Student volunteers, dedicated 9th May 2024 to assisting with cleaning at the Gerald Fitzpatrick Home in Bertrams. This facility now houses 75 elderly residents, including those from recently closed old age homes in Hillbrow and Berea.

Upon arrival, the staff warmly welcomed us and guided us to areas needing attention. The team was divided to tackle various cleaning tasks with provided materials:

• Kitchen: Wiping down fridges, walls, and doors.
• Bathrooms: Washing sinks and mopping floors.
• Outdoor Areas: Cleaning garden spaces and walkways by removing debris and sweeping paths.

The staff and residents expressed heartfelt gratitude for our efforts. We appreciated the opportunity to support the elderly and look forward to future community engagement activities.

Melusi, Pretoria – When World Oral Health Day came around on March 20th, the GRT-I Melusi team rallied their community for a truly smile-worthy celebration! Joining forces with the University of Pretoria’s Department of Community Dentistry, they rolled out the red carpet for 219 beaming crèche kids in Melusi.

The GRT-I node continues to show its commitment to bettering the lives of the poor in their community. We identify gaps in the community, no matter how little to make to provide an education and make an impact.

GRT-Inspired consist of 3 partners University of Witwatersrand, University of Johannesburg and University of Pretoria. The research communities are Hillbrow, Atteridgeville and Melusi.

24th April 2021 was an exciting day for all teams as GRT-INSPIRED became a live project. Fieldworkers took to the field, signalling our first step outside of planning rooms and Covid lockdowns.