Mass protest looms for reversal of Potch-Ventersdorp merger

Khuduga Dibe, the community leader, says the executive mayor has been given seven days to visit the community, which is sinking into poverty and is in the dark about their future.

Dibe says the community wants to know why the merger was necessary and what benefits were envisaged from the merger. Among the questions he wants answers for are what the considerations and recommendations of the municipal demarcation board were in addressing the historic challenges of Ventersdorp; how much of the said recommendations and boundary changes have been implemented and what commitments the province and the national government have made to fulfil the municipal demarcation board’s recommendations, other than boundary changes.

The other burning issues in Ventersdorp that need answers, according to Dibe, include the money owed by the Ventersdorp municipality since before the merger and the money that NW 405 budgeted to provide services to the community.

‘They also want to know the steps taken to address the management challenges, initiatives for economic growth and job creation and the growth development strategy.

‘Why were employment contracts terminated after the merger and why are security companies evicting people without eviction orders? he asked.

‘We regard these issues as urgent and serious… If our invitation is refused and if answers to the list of above-mentioned issues (which should not be regarded as exhaustive) are not provided, we will consider it to be a clear indication that there are no answers and that the merger was never intended to improve the appalling circumstances we are currently faced with. Further, in the event of such a refusal, we will be left with no option but to embark on mass action to demand the immediate reversal of the merger,’ he said.

Dibe says they Ventersdorp residents say they have not witnessed the realisation of service delivery as outlined by the constitution of SA. ‘The services are not provided to a large part of the community in a sustainable manner and, in fact, they are on a decline. Our town’s economy is on the decline as businesses that once provided employment to members of our community are relocating elsewhere.

‘Our water and sanitation infrastructure has not been maintained and, as a result, members of our community are exposed to unhealthy living conditions on a daily basis,’ he said.

Victor Boqo, the mayoral spokesperson, says the executive mayor, Kgotso Khumalo, has agreed to meet with the community in the Ext. 2 community hall at 15:00 this Sunday. Dibe says they will wait and see if the mayor will, indeed, meet with them.