Councillors fear for their lives
TWO KIMBERLEY ward councillors have been signed up for council security to protect them and their families from angry protesters.
Ward 8 councillor Charles Ngoma was the target of a protest on Friday morning, where burning tyres were used to block roads in Galeshewe.
Tyres were also set alight outside the house of Lerato Park ward councillor Paul Kok last week.
Police spokesperson, Captain Bashoabile Kale, said that a group of protesters burnt tyres in John Daka and Moshoeshoe streets on Friday. They were demanding the removal of councillor Ngoma and that they be provided with serviced plots.
Arrested
“Roads leading towards some of the schools were closed to traffic. Five suspects were arrested and released. The Public Order Police intervened and encouraged the protesters to speak to the municipality. The mayor made a commitment to meet with them in two weeks’ time,” said Kale.
He added that the rubble in the road was cleared by Expanded Public Works Programme workers.
Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesperson, Sello Matsie, stated that municipal staff were unable to enter the Matlalo office in Galeshewe on Friday as buckets of faeces had been strewn at the entrance.
Meanwhile, four of the seven accused who were arrested on charges of malicious damage to property, public violence and the obstruction of traffic on the R31 road near Lerato Park last week, received bail of R300 in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
The remaining four accused will remain in custody. The matter was postponed until January 26.
Ngoma indicated on Friday that an angry mob wanted to vandalise his house.
“The instigators do not even stay in this area. They are sowing propaganda,” added Ngoma.
He denied that councillors were not doing their jobs.
“People can’t accuse us of being lazy, or not holding community meetings. We are not asleep, we are running around until 10pm to resolve issues. Every time we try to arrange a community meeting, it is deliberately disrupted. Today people have water and houses, which they did not previously have, they cannot complain.
“Clearly the issues are not related to service delivery ... people have their own agenda. There are developments in Galeshewe such as the Madiba Park that is on the map.”
Sol Plaatje executive mayor Mangaliso Matika indicated that the councillors who were under attack would be afforded internal security by the municipality, until a security assessment has been completed.
“In terms of the new gazette, the mayor and the Speaker are provided with security. A security assessment must be conducted in collaboration with the police for councillors. In the meantime, they will be provided with security by the municipality. The police have been briefed on the current situation and we have met with different internal security,” said Matika.
He believed that the protests were being orchestrated in an attempt to destabilise the municipality.
“The destruction of property has reversed the gains that we have made. What is very clear is that there are ex-councillors and internal political dynamics at play. A few individuals seek to hold the larger community at ransom.
“Another example is the call for removal of councillors and myself.
“Communities need to understand that everything needs to be done within the ambit of the law. Destruction and threats won’t be tolerated at all.”
Matika stated that the municipality would be proceeding with its court application to interdict the illegal occupation of land at the Lerato Park housing site.
The matter was on Friday postponed in the Northern Cape High Court until February 16.
Copies of the notices will be placed at the shacks that were erected illegally.
Matika indicated that the issues raised were not new and that they were being attended to.
“We are working on the request to survey erven. We will be engaging with the community within a reasonable time.
“We will be in contact with councillors and the police to find out the actual issues.
“Once the situation has stabilised, we call upon the police to deal with those who seek to destroy municipal property and threaten the wellbeing of society. Truant councillors will definitely be taken to task through available mechanisms.”
He added that the municipality was still assessing the extent of the damage caused to state property, including the destruction of roads and street lights.
“We cannot conduct an assessment while the situation remains volatile.
“The riots are also delaying the allocation of flats in Lerato Park to beneficiaries who qualify.
“We will not entertain political factions and anyone who is unhappy should approach the regional or provincial ANC offices. We cannot respond on behalf of the ANC.”
Kok pointed out that only beneficiaries who qualified were entitled to a house in Lerato Park,
“Before approval is given, their details and income must be verified.”
He stated that it was up to the ANC to remove him and not because of the demands of the community.
“I never contested the elections, people voted for the ANC.” TARGET: Protesters blocked roads into Galeshewe on Friday.
Picture: Supplied