Residents demand better municipal services
Scores of residents marched to the Greater Letaba Municipality offices to demand better services on Thursday July 5.
The marchers also accused the municipality of employing 52 general workers without following proper procedure.
Some of the marchers’ grievances included shortages of clean running water, proper sanitation and failure by the municipality to make land available for cemeteries especially at Ga-Kgapane Township.
They say the population of Greater Letaba is dominated by youth however the municipality does not initiate projects to make sure that the youth are employed.
They further accused the municipality of billing the communities for the services which were not rendered, failing to fix pot holes and to re-gravel dusty roads in the villages.
They demanded that the council of Greater Letaba Municipality review the Integrated Development Planning (IDP) and prioritise essential services, as well as develop strategies to address unemployment.
Read: TZANEEN: March against ‘bad health services’
They threatened to unleash a revolution if the municipality fails to adhere to their demands. Before handing a memorandum to the Mayor, Peter Matlou, march convener Sello Sodi said residents demand better service delivery from their municipality.
The Mayor of Greater Letaba Municipality, Peter Matlou said he will consult all stakeholders in the municipality and respond accordingly within the given time frame. Municipal manager, Innocent Sirovha, said the employment of 52 general workers who applied for work in November last year was done to save the costs of re-advertising the positions.
“We shortlisted and appointed the workers following consultations with the unions.
This after the Auditor General’s report which raised serious concerned about the high vacancy rate in the municipality which hampers service delivery,” said Sirovha.
