The municipal offices in Morgenzon was closed on 20 December and only reopened for seven days after a peaceful march on 15 January.
According to information, members of the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) were allegedly responsible.
Some ANC-members requested that the municipal manager, Ms Gugu Mhlongo-Ntshangase, address them regarding the recruitment of temporary workers at the municipality, which was agreed to.
According to the DA-councillor in Morgenzon, Mr Muso Kubheka, this has affected residents who are willing to pay rates and taxes and those who want to renew their car licences.
The Standerton Advertiser spoke to Mr Khubeka on several occasions and he issued a press release on Wednesday, 29 January.
The newspaper had already asked the reason why the offices are closed at the mayor’s press briefing on 7 January, and was promised feedback.
An attempt was also made to secure an interview with Mr Linda Dhlamini, on 13 January, to no avail. The caucus leader of the DA, Mr Rosier de Ville, said that according to his information, political reasons formed the basis of the closing down.
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A WhatsApp-message to Lekwa’s communications manager, Ms Thobeka Mtshiselwa, followed on Wednesday, 29 January. Mr Kubheka’s statement cited that ANC-infighting led to the offices’ shutdown.
“Residents cannot renew vehicle licences, pay for services, nor buy grave sites,” he said.
The statement went on to say that Sanco barricaded the offices after accusing the ANC of malpractice and nepotism.
Sanco furthermore said that a community development worker recruited 50 of his family and friends in July last year to work on the local dumping site, without following proper procedures and without the knowledge of Mr Sibusiso Mjiyako, manager of Morgenzon satellite municipal offices.
Sanco then engaged in a mass demonstration outside the municipal offices and submitted a memorandum, proposing the reversal of the ‘unfair recruitment policies and nepotism’.
They gave the municipality until 23 January to respond to their demands, but the municipality failed to do so.
The offices were closed and barricaded on Monday, 27 January.
As regards service delivery, Mr Kubheka added that every South African has a constitutional right to have access to proper services and the DA urged the ANC and Sanco to get their house in order, providing services to the people, who voted them into power.
According to the DA, they will be forced to report this matter to the office of Mr Mandla Msibi, MEC of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), to intervene and should the MEC fail to help, they will have no choice, but to go to the Human Rights Commission.
Ms Mtshiselwa notified the newspaper on Thursday, 30 January that the offices are open.
