Community protests lack of basic services

More than 1 200 residents from the Dikgale area staged a march to the offices of Polokwane Municipality on Tuesday to protest the lack of basic services in their area.
According to the protesters the municipality has, despite requests dating back to 2016, failed to tar the roads from Ga-Mokgopo, Ga-Mmakalanyane and Dikgale Filling Station via Titibe main road, to Ga-Makgoba village. A further burning issue is the matter of local extensions around Madiga village surrounds which to date no village has been electrified.

Community leader Maphuti Lekota expanded on their demands: “We have also requested for a community hall. We have been having meetings under trees because the Department of Education does not want us to host those meetings at the schools in the area. We have also asked for water pipes, taps and boreholes to be installed at villages in our area since 2016 and nothing has happened. We are tired because, except in Titibe, the pump operators in the area do not deliver good service to their communities. We want the municipality to come with a strategy to resolve this crisis.”
In response Spokesperson for Polokwane Municipality, Matshidiso Mothapo said they acknowledged all grievances from the community and that a comprehensive report in response to all issues will be made available. “However, we are still urging members of the communities to work together with their councillors because it is councillors who provide feedback on the services to the communities. There are individuals within communities who have intentions of dislodging the councillors they do not want to work with.”

Story & photos: Herbert Rachuene
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