Protesters push forward to Msukaligwa Municipality despite slow start
KaMangena emphasized the importance of community members staying in the area, as they were in the process of organizing additional "comrades" to join their cause.
ERMELO – The anticipated shutdown in Ermelo commenced with a sluggish start this morning, June 23 as only a small number of community members gathered at varying times near the Sanlam Centre.
Discrepancies in the advertised meeting times on notices and social media platforms could potentially explain the low turnout, with some indicating a gathering time of 7:00, while others mentioned 9:00.
Despite the cold winter morning, residents slowly trickled in.
Jama KaMangena, a prominent figure leading the proceedings, began his address with an analogy.
Drawing inspiration from George Orwell’s classic novel, “Animal Farm,” KaMangena shared his thoughts.
He recounted the story of a pig on a farm who dreamt of liberation and rallied the other animals to recognize their oppression. Surprisingly, the animals denied being oppressed until the pig challenged a chicken about the absence of its eggs. Motivated by this realisation, the pig led a revolt to overthrow the farmers, envisioning a society without hierarchy.
However, as the farmers were ousted, the pigs claimed leadership based on their role in conceiving the liberation idea.
They occupied the farmhouse, enjoying its luxuries. KaMangena emphasized that this allegory mirrors the current state of affairs in our country.
“We all fought for freedom, but now equality eludes us,” KaMangena stated.
He highlighted the stark contrast between the ministers and the general population, where those in power have access to resources such as generators and solar systems, leaving the rest of the country in darkness. He urged the community to recognize the oppressive nature of this inequality and stand up against those in power and fight for service delivery in town.
“These individuals are the ‘pigs’ of our society, and it is our duty to challenge them and fight for our rights,” he said.
As the shutdown in Ermelo progresses, it remains to be seen how the community’s demands for equality will be addressed.
Calls for the district mayor to address the crowd are what is being planned next.
The events of this morning signify a growing dissatisfaction and a determination to hold those in power accountable for ensuring service delivery is rendered.
KaMangena emphasized the importance of community members staying in the area, as they were in the process of organizing additional “comrades” to join their cause.
Police from as far as Hazyview have been deployed to oversee the ongoing events. Silviya Breytenbach, one of the concerned community members participating in the protest, also noted the presence of a police vehicle from Mitchells Plain.
When asked about her perception of the effectiveness of the protest actions, considering that this was the third organized demonstration that has not yet yielded any observable results, she expressed her belief that sustained pressure on the authorities could compel higher-ranking individuals to intervene and address the community’s concerns.
“With police officers coming from various locations, it is evident that our presence has been acknowledged, and hopefully, our pleas for improved services will also be recognized by the municipality soon.”
Although all roads are currently accessible for travel, certain shops have chosen to close their doors in response to the ongoing protest.
Protesters are currently at the Msukaligwa Municipality.
