It costs the local business community a pretty penny. Some businesses have to close their doors during every power failure or loadshedding. Households are suffering. Those in daily need of oxygen struggle. Old age homes are suffering and yet, there are no answers and no quick solutions, neither for old infrastructure, nor for Eskom.
Residents of Parys, Schonkenville and Tumahole, are frustrated with the frequent water problems the town have, low water pressure, dirty drinking water, potholes and electricity problems, in addition to the Eskom loadshedding frustration. And, as if that is not enough, cable theft is causing further electrical and water disruptions.
All of the above is the reason for a peaceful march on Thursday 21 March, protesting against poor service delivery. The march will start from the Mosepidi Hall in Tumahole at 08:30, moving towards the Parys Town Hall where they will gather from 10:00 to 13:00, to hand over a memorandum to the municipal management.
According to one of the organisers, Neo Thibile, they are hoping to get the Free State premier or, at least, a delegate from her office here. “They know about our problems and all residents’ support is needed.”
The march is organised by the Ngwathe Local Business Forum in co-operation with the Ngwathe Independent Community Association (NICA). It is a legal, non-political march.
There were also public meetings in this regard in Schonkenville, at the Mosepidi Hall and the Rotary Hall this week.
NICA members, We Care, Parys Contractors Forum, some councillors, AfriForum members and members of the Ngwathe Local Business Forum attended a meeting last week where the message was clear – “We’ve been knocking for too long.”
Now, they want to voice their complaints with the march and the handing of the memorandum..
