Youthful face of protest – “No services, no vote”

Scores of residents in Mentz disrupted lessons in local schools when they demanded that learners join their service delivery protest carried out on the R71 road on Tuesday. The protesters argued that the learners were equally affected by poor service delivery in the area.
Some Grade 12 learners from Nkoshilo High School were however not happy with the disruption and indicated that it would have a negative impact on their studies especially as they were busy preparing for an important Mathematics test to be written tomorrow (Friday).
The angry residents barricaded the road with stones and burning tyres claiming a lack of running water, tarred roads, RDP houses and ablution facilities among others to be the reason for their protest. They further threatened not to cast their votes during the 2019 national general elections in May as they claim that it was ‘useless’ because the current administration fails to render basic services in the area.
Residents said they met with the ward 34 councillor, Mantswi Makamela on Monday during a community meeting to try and find solutions to the challenges experienced in the area but attendees allegedly received insults from the said councillor and threats that she would shoot anyone who disrespects her. They further claimed that Makamela doesn’t take care of residents because she stays in the city.
They stressed that they don’t want her in the position as she is ‘incompetent’, adding that lack of proper roads put residents’ lives under severe risk because emergency service vehicles such as ambulances can’t access a number of villages falling under Mentz. A female tavern owner, who wished to remain anonymous, reiterated that her business is badly affected as delivery trucks are unable to reach her tavern.
Although the Police and traffic officials were at the scene to maintain peace one of the residents, Joseph Kopa claimed that rubber bullets were fired to disperse the crowd and several people were allegedly injured in the process. He further said they engaged in a peaceful protest and reiterated that they did not burn tyres on the tarred road but on the side as they don’t want to damage what they already have. Kopa added that they would continue with the protests until their demands are met.
Makamela was contacted for comment but referred Polokwane Observer to Polokwane Municipality’s communication team as she indicated that she was not the spokesperson for the municipality, concluding by saying all the issues must be addressed with the municipality. A media inquiry was sent to the municipality’s communication team but a response was still awaited by the time of going to print.

On Tuesday, Provincial Police Spokesperson Moatshe Ngoepe said the situation was back to normal but the Police were still monitoring the area. He added that no reported incidents of damage to property or injuries caused during the protest had been received..
In a separate incident, the Moutse communities decided to suspend their almost two weeks service delivery protests allegedly after high level engagement with Premier Stan Mathabatha on Friday. Mathabatha was quoted in a statement to have said “We held a fruitful engagement with the leadership and agreed that an Imbizo should be held in the area soon to iron out quite a number of issues.”
During protests community members reportedly demanded water and better services and an Imbizo is expected to be held with the community before end of next month, it was learnt. Mathabatha’s spokesperson, Kenny Mathivha emphasised that residents have a right to protest as enshrined in the Constitution but cautioned that they should refrain from destroying roads and other public facilities.

Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za
Photos: Supplied