‘WE WON’T BACK DOWN’
RESIDENTS in Galeshewe have refused to back down and have vowed that Kimberley will remain shut down until the Sol Plaatje mayor, Mangaliso Matika, the municipal manager, Goolam Akharwaray, and the chief financial officer, Lydia Mahloko, resign.
In a meeting that lasted about half an hour yesterday, where the way forward was discussed, Galeshewe residents agreed that they will close the roads leading into the area from 5am this morning until their grievances are met.
“We will not return to work until those people evacuate their offices,” they shouted.
The meeting was called to discuss the way forward following the march to the municipality last Thursday.
The march erupted into violent protests where various businesses and properties were vandalised and looted. Disruptions continued on Thursday night and Friday, with many tuck shops and liquor stores looted and other private and public properties set on fire.
Businesses in the CBD were reluctant to open for business over the weekend in fear of falling prey to looters.
A community member who chaired yesterday’s meeting, Kgakgamatsho Motebe, said the peaceful march turned violent after the mayor refused to address the people and police fired rubber bullets at marchers.
“We were provoked by the mayor after he failed to address us. People got angry when police shot at us and that led to the criminals helping themselves,” said Motebe.
“Our demands are clear … we want the mayor, CFO and municipal manager (MM) to resign. The mayor is arrogant to say that he will not remove ‘those people’. The ANC is also in support of the mayor. We say to hell with people being placed on leave … we need them to be removed.”
Motebe condemned the looting of businesses. “We never said anyone must loot. We need a government that will adhere to the cries of its people.”
She warned that people will address the matter themselves if government failed to do so.
“If the government does not listen, the people shall govern. The premier said she wants to intervene but she has, however, failed to address us. We have long been complaining about the looting inside the Sol Plaatje Municipality and nothing had been done about that.”
Motebe called on community members to support those who were arrested by the police the past weekend.
“We will march to the police station where the 190 people who were arrested are kept. We will continue to march to court and call for the immediate release of the people.
“The provincial commissioner of the police, Risimati Shivuri, needs to resign and leave this Province as he was the one who gave the order for the police to shoot the people during the march. The police just randomly arrested people who were innocent. We will call for the release of those people.”.
Residents cheered Motebe on as they agreed with and supported her statements.
Some said that although they knew that the protest action is drastic, it is the only way the municipality will listen to the people.
“The leaders in the municipality are in support of one another. The CFO has to report to the MM and the MM has to report to the mayor. The municipality said they want proof of the corruption allegations. We say that while the corruption is being investigated that those people must be removed from office. There is no way one can conduct an investigation against yourself. We cannot allow corruption to continue and innocent and poor residents to pay for corrupt politician to fill their pockets. Enough is enough,” they said.
Matika has meanwhile scheduled meetings with business owners, church leaders and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), starting from today.
Matika pointed out that the protest march has resulted in the loss of basic services and he has called for an engagement with various stakeholders on the issues.
Matika will meet with various religious formations today, the business sector tomorrow and NGOs on Wednesday.
The meetings will take place in the municipal chambers at 2pm.
Meanwhile, the police have rubbished claims that they were ordered to shoot protesting residents. MEETING: Kgakgamatsho Motebe chaired the meeting held in Galeshewe where it was decided that protest action would continue.