Residents angry at lack of representative to take their memorandum

The young and old residents from Tsakane Extension 10, 15, 17 and 21 left their daily chores to submit a memorandum of grievances on today.

However, the memorandum that was supposed to be submitted to a representative from the Economic development’s MEC office, Lebogang Maile was never submitted.

Residents arrived two hours before the agreed time  at the Tsakane Customer Care Centre.

They did not mind the  high weather temperatures on the day, but waited outside the centre singing songs of struggle while passing a message that they are not satisfied about their ward councillors’ style of leadership.

On the memorandum, residents were complaining about the high rate of the unemployed youth and poor service delivery in their communities.

Their wait came after a brief communication between the community leaders and Ewert Maseko from the public participation office at the centre.

Maseko’s suggestion to the leaders that he could receive a memorandum on behalf of the MEC’s office and  send it to the relevant person was not welcomed by the residents who claimed to be tired of the empty promises from the metro.

Residents who shouted that they need service delivery where they live said they did not mind waiting outside the centre even if it meant waiting for the whole day.

According to Luvo Lenzi from the Kwastsaduza community and workers’ forum, the community is disappointed that no one from the MEC’s office was present to receive their grievances after they have communicated with the office weeks ago and agreed to send someone to sign and take the memorandum.

After waiting for two hours under the extremely hot sun, residents were later told by Maseko that after trying several times to contact Maile’s office, he did not get any response.

Maseko then suggested they contact the mayor’s office to send a representative to sign and receive a memorandum.

Residents who were already joined by the PASO members from two high schools in Tsakane refused the suggestion.

“We will only submit  a memorandum to the MEC or a representative from his office and not to the metro,” shouted residents.

A decision to go back home and think about a way forward was then taken by the residents.

Speaking on behalf of the residents Lenzi said that they will not keep quiet while they have lived in shacks for 15 years, waiting for the RDP house to be built for them.

He said the decision that the community will take will ensure that the provincial government feels the pressure from them.

“We will not fold arms while we still live under bad conditions,” said Lenzi.