Various groups and residents of Warbuton led by the South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Msukaligwa sub-district, marched to York Timber Forestry Company on Thursday, 22 February, to deliver a memorandum of demands.
The peaceful protest is part of the party’s annual Red October campaign declared at its 14th National Congress last year, where their leader, Mr Blade Nzimande, said they have to defeat crime, corruption and corporate state capture across all levels.
More than a 1 000 residents, including Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) members, took to the streets and handed over the memorandum to the company’s Mr Daniel Harmse.
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The demands include, but are not limited to the following:
• Assistance in eradicating poverty and unemployment in the area by considering employing the youth
• Issuing of bursaries to needy children as part of giving back to society
• Assistance in building a community hall and other facilities for the youth
• Management to engage with the community and see how they can help
• Company to develop skills by building a skills training centre.
The group gave the company seven working days to submit a response and failure to do so, will result in the party and its aligned partners intensifying the pressure.
Mr Harmse signed the memorandum and assured the protesters the company will respond.
The march followed many marches in the Gert Sibande District with the SACP at the forefront.
The party led protests in Ermelo as well as Perdekop.
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