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Police and protestors
Police in the Northern Cape have arrested seven people, including a minor for public violence following their participation in a failed Kimberley shutdown.
They remain in custody after they allegedly blockaded the N8 near the Kimberley Airport around Greenpoint.
Their action comes after a few residents marched to the offices of Premier Zamani Saul to demand the dissolution of the Sol Plaatje Municipality council, the removal of council speaker Dipuo Peters, as well as to request investigations into alleged corruption at the municipality.
They complained about constant sewage spillages, high electricity tariffs, and the appalling state of the city. They further called for the removal of the Municipal Manager, Thapelo Matlala and underperforming directors.
Action group organiser, Boyce Makoti also demanded to know how the municipality planned to spend the R2.5 billion grant from the National Treasury Budget Facility for Infrastructure,
“Regarding the demands that we put forth as the community, all we want is affordable services. We want jobs in our community and we want to be treated with dignity. The sewer must stop. Officials in the municipality need to be held accountable.”
Residents say they have been calling for their service delivery concerns to be addressed, but little is being done.
Some residents expressed their dissatisfaction.
“I am unhappy. Today I am here by the premier’s office. The cabinet of the premier must go out. They are not doing their work. We are suffering. Old people are suffering.”
“We are sick and tired of corrupt officials. Leaders who are not held to account.”
In receiving the memorandum, the Premier stressed that he does not have the power to accede to some of the demands.
“The ANC Provincial Executive Committee can do that. Not me. I don’t have such powers. There is no imperial leader in the ANC. Even President Cyril Ramaphosa can’t remove a mayor as president of the ANC. It is the structure called the National Executive Committee and the Provincial Executive Committee. So don’t leave here with the misconception that I can wake up and remove a mayor. I can’t do it. The provincial Executive Committee of the ANC that appointed the mayor can remove him.”
In a statement released by the municipality ahead of this action, they called on residents to approach law enforcement agencies with all their allegations of corruption.
The municipality says some of the group’s demands are based on distorted facts. The action group says if their demands are not met, they will mobilise and return to the streets.
