Community members came together to map a way forward
Mr Sam Nape explained that after the protest on August 18 there was a call for the different organisations to come together to map a way forward and not to stand on the side as it was in the past.
Pastors, academics, business structures, taxi association, teachers organisations, leaders from labour and cultural organisations, ward leadership, parents, non-governmental organisations and other concerned community members came together to map a way forward about the problems of the city.
The meeting called by the Greater eMalahleni Concerned Residents and it was held at the Izodela Development Centre in Lynnville on Tuesday, September 12.
After a prayer, Mr Sam Nape gave the purpose of the meeting. He explained that after the protest on August 18 there was a call for the different organisations to come together to map a way forward and not to stand on the side as it was in the past.
Mr George Lukhele said that as young people they felt that the time has come to ask parents, pastors, leaders and other concerned community members to join and lead them. Mr Lukhele mentioned the issues of unemployment, housing, infrastructure, drugs, foreigners and other related problems.
Some of the people who attended a community meeting called by the Greater eMalahleni Concerned Residents held at the Izodela Development Centre in Lynnville on Tuesday, September 12.
“Local people are not benefitting from houses, employment, business opportunities and other benefits. We have had protest in the past, we have had blockage of the highways and our municipality is letting us down. Some of out members have been arrested; we have tried to engage with mayor, municipal manager, MEC and other leaders but non bear any positive results. We are now saying enough is enough. We are going to have a prayer and a protest to make the mayor to listen to us. We are capable of shutting down the city to a stand still,” Mr Lukhele said.
Pastors, taxi association, business sector, community leaders and non governmental organisations other community members pledged their support and were hopeful that a way forward will be found to save the city.
Even though there were different views about the planned march to hand over a memorandum on Friday, September 15 it was later resolved that the march should go ahead.
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