Cloud of CONFUSION
A CLOUD of confusion hung over the city last night as rumours and social media reports of another imminent shutdown continued to spread.
Following discussions with representatives of the local taxi industry last night, subsequent to a mass meeting with residents in Galeshewe, community leader Tumelo Mosikare announced that the city would be brought to standstill, unless there was confirmation of the resignation of Sol Plaatje executive mayor Mangaliso Matika.
This came after yesterday afternoon’s scheduled community gathering at the Galeshewe circle ended with dozens of demonstrators barricading all access to the intersection with paving stones, while the ANC in the Northern Cape was neither willing to confirm or deny the resignation rumours, despite widespread reports that Matika had stepped down.
While a lack of clarity on the issue initially resulted in calls for the N12 and N8 into Kimberley to be closed in protest from this morning, a subsequent meeting to finalise the way forward continued into the night.
Shortly after 7pm last night, Wanya Tsotsi’s Pantsi Obusitse said that a crowd of residents had reconvened at the circle to await the outcome of a meeting with representatives from the taxi industry, where the final details of any mass action were expected to be decided.
“It is quiet here at the moment,” he said. “There are still many people waiting to hear about the shutdown as they (community leaders and the taxi industry) are still in a meeting.”
However, at approximately 8pm, Mosikare said that the shutdown would commence from 10pm last night, pending Matika’s resignation.
“We understand that this will be affecting everyone negatively and hope that those in power can make a speedy decision,” Mosikare said.
“If Matika steps down (last night), everything will return to normal and we will deal with the other issues, regarding the councillors and the municipality, after this demand has been met.”