Residents of Ext 30, known as Marikana in Kinross, blocked the R29 with burning tyres and stones on Monday, April 24.
They demanded the resignation of their Ward councillor, Rose Nkabinde.
The protesters accused Nkabinde of alleged corruption and that she allegedly elected a family member to work as a community liaison officer (CLO) of the sewer project in the area.
Govan Mbeki Municipality’s mayor, Nhlakanipho Zuma, visited the area to listen to the protesters’ grievances next to the railway line, but they demanded he addresses them next to the contractor’s site.
Protesters told the mayor that Nkabinde also interferes in the appointment of sub-contractors.
The protesters demanded that the municipality investigates Nkabinde and other municipal officials who are allegedly subcontracted to the project.
They also alleged that Nkabinde gave the contractor a list of people to be employed.
“Site establishment was completed and the councillor doesn’t want to sign a work permit for the contractor to start the work.
“We elected our own CLO, but Nkabinde wants to replace him with someone of her choice. Construction work has not begun because of her,” said Bongani Ngomane, community leader.
“She places her interests and that of her family first. We will be happy if the Hawks investigate our councillor because we suspect she is involved in many wrong activities,” he said.
The MEC of Human Settlement, Speedy Mashilo, was met with chaos when he visited the area in October last year for a soil-turning event of the R45m sewer project.
At that time, chaos erupted when a group of community members tried to disrupt a meeting between the Govan Mbeki Municipality, Mashilo and residents in the area.
The group demanded that the meeting and sod-turning ceremony must stop.
They also wanted Mashilo to address them about the sewer project.
The residents claimed that politicians have already elected a project steering committee without their knowledge.
During the mayor’s visit, the protesters refused to be addressed near the railway line, they demanded that the mayor walks down the muddy road to the contractor’s site where they handed him their memorandum. The mayor walked about 1 kilometre with the protesters on the muddy road to the railway line where his car was parked as it was difficult for cars to use the muddy road to the place of
meeting.
Zuma was accompanied by Nkabinde when he addressed the protesters. Many insults and allegations were hurled at her.
Zuma took their memorandum and he promised to respond soon.
Ridge Times spoke to Nkabinde about the allegations raised against her, she asked the newspaper to send her questions.
Nkabinde’s comment will be published in the next edition of Ridge Times.
