Mayor appeals to eMbalenhle community not to vent their anger on municipal property
“It is important for the community to protect this property, no matter what grievances they have against me or the municipality, but the offices must not be set alight or abused because of their importance.”
Residents angry at the Govan Mbeki Municipality or the mayor must not take their anger out on the municipal property.
This was Executive Mayor Nhlakanipho Zuma’s message to the community when he reopened the municipal offices in eMbalenhle on January 23. The reopening came after the building was burned down two years ago in a service delivery protest.
That was the second time in five years that the offices were burned down.
“It is important for the community to protect this property. No matter the grievances they might have with the municipality or with me, these offices should never again be set alight.
“The offices provide various essential services. It is painful to see a family who has just lost a loved one has to travel to Secunda or Evander for burial site arrangements because eMbalenhle doesn’t have that service,” said Zuma.
“The offices don’t belong to me or the councillors. It is here to render services to the entire community.”
Zuma said the eMbalenhle offices will render extended services, including those previously only available in Secunda, and that the GMM aims to repair the Sijongile Ndamase Community Hall and he does not want it vandalised again.
READ MORE: Mayor meets with protesters in Bethal
