Masualle slammed for ‘poor leadership’
AS PREMIER Phumulo Masualle was addressing the media in Bhisho yesterday, about 50km away in Keiskammahoek Sanco was blasting him for doing so, accusing him of poor leadership.
Shortly after Masualle’s news conference, Keiskammahoek residents went on a rampage and set alight a building just after midday, as their service delivery protest entered its second day.
Masualle told journalists his administration had a plan to address some of the grievances raised by Keiskammahoek residents.
“We were at the point where we sought to go and give feedback to the community on what the government is doing [to deal with the demands].
“The Sanco leadership felt we should not. We had committed ourselves to seven days to report back to the community,” Masualle said.
Yesterday the Daily Dispatch reported that health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said R42-million had been set aside for the refurbishment of SS Gida Hospital – one of the residents’ demands.
Masualle promised that the Steve Vukile Tshwete High School would be built.
For scholar transport, the respective departments were trying to secure resources to transport the additional pupils.
Turning his attention to the vandalism, Masualle said destroying property was not the way to go.
But Sanco provincial secretary Tony Duba laid into Masualle, saying he showed poor leadership by not going to Keiskammahoek yesterday to calm the residents down.
“He has failed to give leadership. We are all supposed to be here.
“The people want leadership close to them. People should not die for service delivery,” he said.
Duba condemned the destruction of property but denied Sanco told Masualle not to come to the town.
“There is absolutely no such thing that we told the premier not to come here,” Duba said.