Residents suspend service delivery protest

The breakthrough in ending the protest came after a high level meeting, attended by MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs; Makoma Makhurupetje, the Executive Mayor of Mopani District Municipality; Nkakareng Rakgoale, the speaker of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality, Cassius Machimane and community leaders.

The protest action by angry residents of Ward 2 and 3 of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality was mainly over the lack of electricity, particularly in new extensions and the lack of clean running water in the whole area.

Roads in the area were blocked with burning tyres, stones and tree branches as residents expressed their dissatisfaction with level of service delivery.

One of the community leaders, Elijah Mhlongo said they have ended the protest action to create a conducive environment for the provincial government, district and local municipality to address the challenges faced by the community.

Meanwhile, municipal spokesperson, Neville Ndlala said that a solution to the electricity problem faced by residents in the three villages has been found.

He said that in the next two weeks Eskom will begin with the surveys, designs and all necessary processes that must precede the actual physical electricity connection which will commence at the beginning of May.

“It must be clearly understood that this is special intervention for a special case and that no changes will be made to the electricity priority list of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality. All the areas that are to be connected in the 2015/2016 financial year will still be connected as planned,” stated Ndlala. He said that it must also be noted that the connections that are being done for households in new extensions.

With regard to water, Ndlala said the Mopani District Municipality will conduct an assessment of the current water infrastructure and challenges while water tankers deliver water as an interim solution.

Ndlala added that at the meeting, residents were urged to engage with the government before resorting to protests.

He said, although the Constitution of this country grants people the right to protest, it should be done within the ambit of the law, and in a peaceful manner.

“Residents must desist from damaging public infrastructure when they embark on a service delivery protest. Repair costs to damaged government property take away money meant for new development meant to uplift communities. It is therefore necessary that all protests are conducted in a peaceful manner,” said Ndlala.