"It is actually a human right to have electricity," Riaan indicated to the municipal management
The farming community of Stilwater, Zaailaagte, Schotchill and Scheepersnek showed that they have had enough of the constant power interruptions in the area. Last Wednesday morning (September 30), local business owners and farmers gathered at the junction just outside town to drive in a convoy with bakkies, tractors and trucks to AbaQulusi Local Municipality to hand over a memorandum of their grievances. This is not the first attempt to address the problem, as previous attempts have been made in this regard, but to no avail. The previous attempt was earlier this year, when AfriForum handed over a petition with over 230 signatures to the municipality. The issues are yet to be addressed by municipal management. This sparked the residents of the area to organise a peaceful protest and to hand over a memorandum to the municipality. The memorandum includes issues regarding security threats, interruption of production and water supply interruptions, which in turn are responsible for great financial losses for farmers and businesses in this area. In the memorandum, the residents state the following: “As the farming community in the surrounding area of AbaQulusi – as well as consumers, taxpayers and voting residents of the town – we demand that swift and effective action be taken to rectify this concerning situation. We also demand answers regarding money that was allegedly meant to be allocated to the refurbishment of the Zaailaagte Line in 2018 to the amount of R6,262,480, as estimated. We can no longer accept empty promises and hollow excuses from those who are running AbaQulusi Municipality.” A few of the local farmers and business owners had the opportunity to address municipal management before the memorandum was handed over to Acting Mayor Mncedisi Maphisa and Municipal Manager Mr Bonga Ntanzi. Protest organiser Riaan Erasmus confirmed that they have been struggling with electrical problems since 2018. He also emphasised the dangers of living on a farm without electricity and securing one’s property, as well as the lack of service regarding electricity in the above-mentioned areas. He explained that it is affecting their livelihood and the services they need to render to the community. “It is actually a human right to have electricity,” Riaan indicated to the municipal management. He furthermore said that they cannot pump water, hence their employees can’t pump water either, which is another human right that is taken away from them. He continued by highlighting the lack of maintenance on that electrical line, and referred to the approximately R6.5 million which was set aside for the project in 2018. He pleaded with the municipality to assist them with this issue, since they cannot continue in this manner. Small business representative Leon Prinsloo emphasises his concerns regarding the town’s leadership. Leon Prinsloo, who represents small business in town, referred to an alleged written agreement with the previous mayor to cooperate regarding safety in rural areas, as well as in town. “It was done in conjunction with the SAPS at the church, and that promise was never met. Then we had another meeting with the bike riders at the police station, and everybody prayed together and there were promises made and they were not met.” He refers to incidents that happen in front of the local police station and nothing is done about it. He furthermore indicated that if it starts with the leaders of this community to take responsibility and maintain discipline / services in town, this will trickle down to the rest of the community. He stressed the fact that the town is ‘running backwards’. A few more people had the opportunity to express their concerns before the microphone was handed over to Municipal Manager Bonga Ntanzi and Acting Mayor Mncedisi Maphisa. Mr Ntanzi acknowledged all parties present and commended the protesters on the peaceful, decent, disciplined and respectful manner in which the protest was conducted. Acting Mayor Mncedisi Maphisa welcomed and acknowledged everyone before he also expressed his appreciation for the manner in which the protest was conducted. He confirmed that they have allocated funds to the budget to address the problems in the Zaailaagte area. He continued by explaining that they have experienced financial issues due to the mismanagement of the previous governance, but they are now ‘back on their feet’. “We will resolve your issues, but we will request that you indicate the person to contact and who we will be engaging with, regarding the issues of your community.” He requested the farmers to give the municipality a little bit of time, but that they would keep on engaging with the leaders to give answers about their grievances. Mr Ntanzi said that after they receive and read the memorandum, they will respond to each and every one of the grievances. “We will also attach figures on how much and attach a programme on when and what must be done.” He also suggested a task team or committee to monitor the progress of the project and give feedback to the residents of those areas. He concluded by saying that he believes they are turning the corner, since they have eliminated all the historical debt of over R197 million, which was incurred between 2011 and 2017. “That has been holding us back from being able to run the municipality properly, because the money was going into an endless pit where you had about nine acting municipal managers in a period of five years.” He continued by saying that, “We are going to get back on our feet and we will engage with you and have a task team where we will be monitoring the progress and there is a plan, as the mayor has indicated.” He thanked Ward Councillor Magda Viktor for assisting the organisers of the march to ensure that it occurred in a legal manner. After the memorandum was signed and handed over, the protesters had a braai and played some music to conclude a peaceful and successful protest.
