Protesters close Helenvale councillor’s offices
HELENVALE’s Pieter Hermaans has become the latest ward councillor to have his offices closed by angry residents.
The protesters took to the streets and closed the council office at the Helenvale resource centre, claiming it was not doing anything for them.
They have accused Hermaans of not holding community meetings and failing to resolve their service delivery gripes. Protester Donovan Pellen said: “Our councillor is not doing anything for us. He is arrogant, does not listen to people and is always telling us to leave messages with his PA.”
Andre Gouda, who described himself as a community leader, accused Hermaans of not doing his work.
“We have elderly people who qualify for free basic services, whose water and electricity are disconnected. We have people whose bills were written off but have been reinstated and he is not there to help them.”
Residents will be taking their grievances to the office of the mayor.
But Hermaans denied the allegations, instead accusing people of being opposed to the change of leadership in the ward.
“It is people who don’t want to accept everything is done inclusively.”
He said he met with the community regularly but many complained about things that did not fall within the competency of the municipality.
“We had a meeting last Sunday and people were complaining about crime. They say criminals get arrested today and released the following day.
“We cannot solve those issues at the municipality,” Hermaans said.
Protesters had previously closed the offices at New Brighton’s Ward 14, Kwazakhele’s Ward 18 and Seaview’s Ward 40.
Council speaker Jonathan Lawack said he had spoken with the affected councillors. He said he was confident they were doing their jobs.