After residents of Bethal and eMzinoni took to the streets this morning and closed the N17 highway and many other streets in Bethal, the mayor of Govan Mbeki Municipality, Nhlakanipho Zuma, finally met with them at 13:00.
Sergeant Thomas Mogadime, spokesman of Bethal Police, said, the protesters demanded to see the mayor this morning.
Bethal and eMzinoni residents have been without water since November last year.
According to Sgt Mogadime, the residents engaged with the mayor numerous times since last year, by sending e-mails to his office, but he never responded.
The issues that the protesters brought under the mayor’s attention when he finally arrived in Bethal include job opportunities in Bethal, the water problems, load-shedding not corresponding with the schedule residents received, roads and the municipal infrastructure not being maintained, drug lords taking over Bethal, the suicide rate among young people because of drug abuse, depression and the lack of skills development for matrics and the high rate of unemployment.
The mayor said residents’ grievances are noted and will be taken into consideration. Although it was a peaceful protest, all businesses in the area were closed.
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