Dordrecht shut down as protesters return to streets

Dordrecht was shut down on Wednesday by protesters who are unhappy with the Emalahleni Municipality – the second round of protest action embarked on since July.

Essential services like hospitals and the police remained functional, but businesses shut their doors. Tyres were set alight in the streets in a scene reminiscent of July’s protest action, which called for a probe into claims of corruption and nepotism in the municipality.

In nearby Cacadu, South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) Dordrecht branch chairperson Luyanda Saleni said one of the reasons for protesting again was the fact that the department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) had not responded to residents’ grievances as promised – within seven days after their visit in July.

Cacadu Ratepayers’ secretary Nomaswazi Kunene said they were not happy that the ANC had allowed the EML’s Nomveliso Nyukwana, who is currently on suspension, to be remunerated.

Municipal manager Owen Dyumbu had also not been suspended.

The Cacadu Ratepayers held a meeting at 4pm on Tuesday to decide on the nature of the protest action.

Kunene could not be reached for a follow-up at the time of going to press.

“MEC Fikile Xasa’s office has been unresponisve,” said Saleni.

“He sent a representative team which promised a response within seven days.”

He claimed that while they awaited Cogta’s response, people had been hired by the municipality without adverts being placed.

“We believe this is the same nepotism that we were complaining about,” added Saleni.

Police had been deployed to the area, with claims surfacing that people had been shot. But Saleni said it was unknown if anyone had been injured in the recent protest action.

He said there was also unhappiness with how the ANC had handled their investigation as only Nyukwana had been suspended. Saleni said they had no problems with the mayor specifically, but “with the administration under her guard”.

“When the ANC did that, they branded our fight wrongly. They are making it seem as if we are chasing the mayor. We are saying all the things were happening under her watch, which means she failed on her constitutional mandate of oversight.”

Saleni said they had communicated with Cacadu but due to “internal problems in the Cacadu leadership” there was no joint protest planned as yet.

Saleni said they wanted the ANC and Cogta to give them feedback, adding that the protests would not stop until their issues were addressed.

The police and Cogta could not be reached for comment at the time of going to press.

EML spokesperson Luthando Nqumkana said due to municipal procedures they could not comment by deadline. The municipality would provide a response which would be made available next week.