Angry community members took to the streets

As is the familiar norm with protest marches, a crowd of disgruntled residents walked along the main road with police and traffic escort. A memorandum with grievances was received and signed by Michael Makhubela, municipal manager, in a peaceful manner.

In the memorandum, of which The Post received a copy, the aggrieved members stated that the municipality shows a lack of cooperation and disrespect towards the community. The residents say that communication and public participation is at an all time low. The demands were mostly about poor service delivery.

One of the group members compared the living conditions in the Bela-Bela township to staying on an uninhabitable savannah. The group claimed that the municipal rates and taxes are considered to be exorbitantly high and there was no sensible rationale behind the implementation date of July this year.

No public participation or meetings were held prior to the increase. Demands were made that municipal service fees must be done away with as this fee structure places an additional financial burden on an already struggling community.

Sanco stated that with most members and residents contributing through the pay as you earn and value added tax-system, any additional municipal fee must be considered as “a crime against humanity”.

They also stated that the interest on outstanding municipal accounts and the discontinuation of services due to the failure to settle the outstanding debt, is a serious violation of people’s rights.

The spokesperson of the group accused mayor, Jeremiah Ngobeni, of allegedly being R40 000 in arrears regarding the utility bill for a business of his in town, yet the services are still operational where as an ordinary resident’s household services would have been suspended.

The group demanded that an investigation be launched into the possibility of illegal electrical connections. The protesters demanded to know when and where the price on electrical units were changed without consulting with residents.

They indicated that earlier this year a R100 could buy 68 units and now a resident will receive only 48 units for the same value of money.

Sanco further stated that the annual indigent subsidies must be allocated indefinitely and that an independent audit be done to identify beneficiaries who do not meet the criteria. The protesters called for investigation to the allegations that the indigent registration was outsourced.

In the memorandum allegations were made that councillors interfered with the allocation of tenders for “self-enrichment” and “monopolizing” of local contracts.

The group demanded another independent audit to establish whether such irregularities did or did not occur, and that allegations of nepotism must also be investigated.

A report of all the unfinished capital projects, for example the Moloto and Sunfa stadiums, as well as other service delivery projects, must be provided within a set timeframe.

They also demanded that 30% of the allocated budget for projects should benefit residents of the township. Another bone of contention is the poor service delivery with refuse removal. It was said that households are flooded with uncollected garbage.

With regards to housing, Sanco demanded that the municipality and the department of cooperative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs (Coghta) adhere to transparent registration processes for those who are long overdue to receive a government sanctioned home.

Sanco also demanded that a land audit be done to identify available land for housing. The group gave the municipality seven days to respond, but it was agreed upon that it be extended to 14 days, said Dengesa Masingi, Sanco regional spokesperson.