Visit of condolences triggers bitter anger
Community members of this village do not slumber and are not fools that can be tossed around by political leaders.
CASTEEL – Community members of this village do not slumber and are not fools that can be tossed around by political leaders. This was the angry response of a member of the village’s youth forum, Mr Thabiso Mahlakoane, when DA’s shadow minister of water and sanitation, Ms Nosimo Balindlela conducted an oversight visit in Bushbuckridge to assess the supply of water to the rural village.
Balindlela visited the family of a young resident, 15-year-old Lucas Lebyane, who was allegedly shot dead by police four weeks ago during a fierce protest by residents demanding access to clean water.
Balindlela had spent the night with the bereaved family as a way of comforting them. “What I need to know is why are you only coming now with all these media people? Where were your people when the young boy was shot and when the family was struggling to bury him?
When we were protesting as residents, why didn’t anyone of you come here? If you had come to join in our struggle, maybe his death could have been prevented,” the angry Mahlakoane asked Balindlela.
Responding to Mahlakoane’s utterances, Balindlela commended him for standing up for his community saying she understood his anger and promised to fight together with the residents in upholding their rights.“I hear all your words, minister.
All I’m saying is that we are not going to be silent about opportunists who come here and act as if they are on our side. We know how politicians operate and I can appreciate if you can prove me wrong and make sure your words are accompanied by action. If we are on the same side, let’s work together, fight together and if we are shot at, let us all die for what we believe in.
Do not stand aside and let us fight alone and later come to act like you care,” Mahlakoane concluded. Balindlela also met with the community of Hlamalani who have no running water.
She accompanied the residents on their daily trek to collect buckets of water from a well, which they share with animals. The frustrated locals shared their frustrations with the minister saying they have been without clean water for many years.
“This is a serious violation of your right to dignity and enough is enough. I am going to write a letter to the Human Rights Commission and see to it that your cry is finally attended to,” Balindlela told the residents.
