POLOKWANE – Seshego police and community safety officers had to calm residents down after chaos errupted at an engagement session at the Ngwako Ramatlhodi Sports Complex.
Residents were agitated by the programme director and mayoral committee member Alfred Moakamedi after he let scheduled speakers proceed with their addresses while residents raised hands insisting that they had something to say.
Observer journalist Koketso Sekhwala is live at the Ngwako Ramatlhodi Sports Complex in Seshego where tension is running high during a community engagement session with the mayor John Mpe. Residents became agitated when their concerns weren't being heard. pic.twitter.com/GD5v8F4d7l
— Polokwane Observer (@PolokwaneObserv) November 9, 2022
Before his address, mayor John Mpe called for calm and urged residents not to disrupt what is meant to be a peaceful, progressive meeting.
The community engagement meeting is part of the municipality’s effort to update members of the Polokwane City cluster about service delivery issues.
The meeting is a continuation of Mpe’s new approach to service communities in the comfort of their areas and while water is prominent to the discussion, he will also engage the community on other service delivery issues.
Municipal spokesperson Thipa Selala said Mpe’s approach is for the municipality to go to the people, listen to their challenges and resolve some of them on the spot.
Mpe told residents that the municipal council is working on ways to pioneer a Polokwane-owned bulk water supplier and will source management and employees from local communities.
He said this is part of their build up to a Metro status municipality.
The municipality is also in the forefront of the development for an academic hospital to be built next to the new Peter Mokaba sport complex.
