No representative from GMM to collect memorandum
Residents from Azania marched to the municipal offices to deliver their demands.
The residents of Azania informal settlement in eMbalenhle marched to the Govan Mbeki Municipality offices in eMbalenhle on May 17 to hand over a memorandum.
Their demands included the formalisation of the land on which they live and proper allocation of residential stands, installation of water taps and meters for each shack, temporary toilets while they are waiting for water-borne toilets, gravel roads and electricity.
According to the Azania Residents Party (ARP) PR councillor and the party president, John Mahlangu, they are helping the municipality to grow and generate revenue because the institution struggles to collect consumer debt.
No one from the municipality collected their memorandum which vexed the ARP members. Mahlangu said he had a meeting with municipal officials and GMM’s law-enforcement offices approved the ARP’s march. He produced papers to Ridge Times as proof.
“Why did they approve our march, knowing very well that they will not come and take our memorandum?”
Mahlangu vowed to forward their memorandum to the Mpumalanga Department for Cooperative Governance and Tourism Affairs (Cogta).
“Perhaps the MEC will realise the importance of attending to our grievances,” said Mahlangu.
Three councillors from GMM arrived after the marchers had already left. They claimed the municipality had sent them to take the Azania residents’ memorandum.
One of these councillors said they had been informed that the march would end at 12:00, but they were surprised to find that the marchers had already departed by 11:30.
ALSO CHECK: Robbery gang blasts open safe at Sasol Filling Station in eMbalenhle
