Residents call for the removal of ward councillor
Fuming residents from Dawn Park, Villa Liza, Windmill Park and Somalia Park blocked a large section of the busy Barry Marais Road with burning tyres and stones during the early morning protest.
Ward 45 residents took to the streets recently, demanding that their ward councillor, Makhosi Lehari, be removed from his position with immediate effect.
The community accuses Lehari of various wrongdoings such as corruption and nepotism.
According to a community representative, Ntsoaki Mokoena, the community’s anger spilt over to the streets after many attempts of trying to get the municipality’s attention.
“We have sent numerous emails to the Ekurhuleni municipality complaining about Lehari’s misdeeds but they’ve never responded,” she said.
Mokoena claims that Lehari hires people he knows for projects around his ward.
They also said that Lehari always turns a blind eye on service-delivery issues.
Mokoena said they’ve had enough of him and they want him removed.
The community dispersed later on in the afternoon after two people from the premier’s office came and addressed them.
Lehari disputed claims that he was one of the suppliers in some of the projects in his ward.
“It’s unfortunate that my name was dragged in the mud for something that I’m not even aware of. If there’s anyone who has proof that I’m apparently one of the suppliers, he/she should forward that information to relevant authorities to deal with the matter,” Lehari said.
Lehari said he is not involved in the hiring process in his ward.
“In my ward there are ward committee members who work with community leaders on the ground to hire community members when there are projects.
“On February 1, there was a public meeting where we ironed out service-delivery issues. I was surprised to see some of the people who attended the meeting to be at the protest,” Lehari said.
According to ANC chief whip Jongizizwe Dlabathi, the demands of the community will be subjected to an objective assessment, to particularly understand the real issues or concerns and the basis of the demands.
“Primarily, solutions must be found through community engagement and dialogue. We do not just fire councillors without a due process of testing the evidence, it’s honesty and materiality.
“Where there is proven material transgression(s), we will not hesitate to act accordingly,” Dlabathi said.
