PROTESTERS DEMAND REMOVAL OF EZIBELENI COUNCILLORS
Tensions grow over housing report delays
ANOTHER protest is brewing in Ezibeleni following the failure of the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality speaker, Mzoxolo Peter, to produce the highly sought-after housing commission of inquiry report in a meeting on Monday.
In addition, calls for the removal of two ANC ward councillors, Mzwabantu Ngesi and Caesar Gwampi, continued during a meeting between police and community leaders at the Ezibeleni police station on Monday.
Residents protested in the streets last Thursday, citing dissatisfaction with the performance of the two councillors, with tyres set alight in the streets on Wednesday.
The protesters also want the housing report, that has taken years to conclude, to be made public to the community.
Resident Zolile Xalisa said during the protest on Thursdau the police requested a meeting with community leaders to discuss reasons for the protest.
“We first had a meeting with police last Friday and we said that community members sought the removal of the incompetent councillors. A petition for the removal of the councillors was submitted earlier this year in the speaker’s office and no action has been taken. “During the meeting the speaker was called to join in and he indicated he would also bring the housing report. He later postponed his attendance and requested we meet on Monday.
“He undermined us and sent a representative instead. The person did not know anything about bringing the housing report and indicated he had just been informed to attend the meeting. This is one of the problems we have with ANC deployees in that municipality – they are arrogant and constantly undermine people.”
Community member Lolo Zingitwa said the community also wanted a probe into an alleged sex for jobs scandal that a councillor, whose name is known to The Rep, was allegedly involved in.
“Several people in the community have spoken out about this, but no charges have been laid because some refused and some got the jobs they were promised. All this speaks directly to one of our complaints of the lack of transparency when hiring people,” Xalisa said.
Community leader Xolani Ngxathu said the office of the MEC for the department of co-operative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) Fikile Xasa had been asked to intervene and fast-track the investigation into the removal of the councillors and to ensure that the housing report was made public.
The Rep reported (“EFF anger at delay in commission” July 20) that Border-Kei Chamber of Business administrator and chairwoman of the commission, Adre Bartis, had indicated not everyone who was implicated in the report had been given a chance to tell their side and that the commission’s committee was waiting for contracts to be renewed to continue with the work.
The commission was established to investigate RDP houses in the former Lukhanji municipal area including claims that people who did not qualify for houses or who had not applied had become beneficiaries, that people had received title deeds for houses that had not been built and duplication of house numbers.
“We were told the local authority was the one which was dragging its feet in addressing both matters and that Cogta hardly received any communique from the municipality when information was requested. If the municipality will not listen to Cogta, who will listen to us as community members?” Ngxathu asked.
The Rep previously contacted Ngesi and Gwampi for comment but were told that they were not allowed to speak to the media.
EMLM spokesman Fundile Feketshane said Xasa said his office would probe allegations regarding the two councillors. The report not been made available to the municipality.