Mandeni municipal manager calls for peace and stability

Mandeni’s main roads were closed once again this morning, as the protest against Mandeni’s mayor that started on Monday picked up again.

Ilembe cluster police spokesperson Sibusiso Khuzwayo said the protest was mainly in the Isithebe Industrial Park yesterday but police had managed to keep it under control.

“This morning they are closing all the roads in Mandeni,” said Khuzwayo.

It is suspected that the protesters will continue their demonstrations outside the municipal buildings.

Mandeni municipal manager Sizwe Khuzwayo has urged residents to use legal means of protest and not create instability.

“It is also in the great interest of all of us to protect Isithebe as our industrial hub and the breadbasket of many of our people.

“The sustainability of Isithebe does not only help those who work in Isithebe, but provides indirect income for all of us, this includes the shopping centers, the taxi industry and the landlords etc.

“We are calling for peace and stability in Isithebe and all our economic centers.

He said they had not yet received a formal memorandum of grievances from the protesters.

 “Based on what we have seen on social media we would like to clarify the following issues:

• “All the projects that are currently ongoing will be completed during this financial year.
• “The issue of the mayor abusing state resources is a misconception since all councilors do not interfere with the administration processes within the municipality.
• “On the issue of nepotism, all vacancies within our municipality are advertised openly and the municipal recruitment policy is applied.
• “On the issue of financial mismanagement, in January the municipality received an unaudited report for the 2017/18 financial year
• “The issue of the mayor; councilors are elected in their respective wards and represent their own political parties. Those who are calling for the mayor to resign they are fully aware that the mayor is a political principal and not a municipal official hence they refused to leave the memorandum of demands with the municipality administration.”