Delaying tactics the cause for march
The community of Pienaar were emabrked on a peaceful march against the delaying tactics of a proposed development.
PIENAAR – This community took to the streets once again when they
embarked on a peaceful march against what they deemed, “delaying tactics” by the
task team appointed by the premier Mr David Mabuza to oversee progress on the
proposed development corridor, that will include a shopping mall, hospital and
low-cost houses.
Led by the Community Property Association (CPA), the community was to hand over a memorandum to Mabuza on Friday, but due to unknown reasons it could not be delivered.
The grievances contained in the memorandum in possession of Mpumalanga News, read as follows, “We as the CPA of Nkosi City, representing the community of
Ward 2 and surroundings, hereby request the premier to append his signature for the public component funds by DBSA to be released. We ask the premier to take voters seriously and think of the people of this area who have no access to clean running water.
“We also ask the premier to advise his officials to respect the CPA and developmental initiatives. Our area is poverty-stricken and many people are jobless and so we believe that the development of the city will help bring about change and relief to local people.”
Asked for a comment, the CPA’s Mr Mandla Msibi said that after their first strike they met with Mabuza and after deliberations referred the matter to Mbombela Local Municipality.
“As the premier had instructed we had a meeting with the mayors and officials in which it was agreed that we would meet again on October 10, but when we got there, no government officials were present.
They have since been sending us from pillar to post and this is the reason why we decided to take to the streets again because our government doesn’t respect us,” he explained.
He said this project was estimated at R4 billion, of which R2,2 billion was for private and R1,8 billion for the public component, which according to the CPA, Mabuza or the provincial government had to sign for so that a 24-hour hospital, RDP houses, two primary schools and four secondary schools could be constructed.
Approach for comment, Mabuza’s office through his spokesman, Mr Zibonele Mncwango said the premier supported this programme and any other developmental initiatives for that matter.
“From where I am sitting, I can safely tell you that the premier has always been at the forefront of development. He is, as we speak, moving around mobilising the private sector and other stakeholders for development.
“But one thing I can tell you is that proper channels and procedures must be followed and regarding this matter in particular, Mabuza had a meeting with the CPA and the chief where he told them to follow due process such as tabling this matter to the municipal’s IDP until it reached cabinet,” Mncwango clarified.
