Special meeting at TUT

A special meeting was recently held to try and come up with a solution after a protest at KwaGuqa, KwaGuqa Extension and on the N4 Highway.

Motorists and workers from KwaGuqa were surprised when they were greeted by burning tyres and other barricades on the N4 Highway and other exit points at KwaGuqa and KwaGuqa Extensions.

The police reported that the roads were closed due to protest and unrest at Vosman near the KG Mall off ramp, exit and entrance at Ferrobank in KwaGuqa as early as 04:00 on Monday morning.

All the exit points from the KwaGuqa Extension were closed with burning tyres and other barricades. While other motorists and workers tried other means to get to work, information was received that stones were thrown at passing motorists. Though it could not be established with certainty what the reason for the strike is, it is believed that it has to do with the planned cut offs of electricity by Eskom from Monday January 23, hiring at Khusile Power Station, employment at Highveld Steel and the service delivery protest.

Some of the people who attended a special emergency meeting held at the TUT campus on Monday, January 16.

The meeting conducted at TUT after different stakeholders came together after the meeting was confirmed by the education institution to come up with a solution to the said problems or ‘burning’ issues. Many points were raised and it was agreed that municipality representatives, taxi associations, protest leaders, district representatives, Eskom representatives, mining housing, different companies, community and religious leaders, youth organisations, business leaders, foreigner shop owners and stakeholders must also be invited to the next meeting.

It was also agreed that outreach programmes need to be held to communicate among ourselves, discussed projects and programmes and educational institutions must come with graduates who are demanded by the local markets. The issue of self employment and creating jobs and cooperation’s were also discussed. It was also said that a lot can be learned from our neighbouring countries like Botswana, Swaziland and others. It was agreed that we need to work together for a common goal.

The next meeting will be held on Thursday, January 19 at 10:00 at TUT campus and everybody is invited.

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