Protest closes town
RESIDENTS of Cofimvaba and Tsomo in Intsika Yethu municipality brought the two towns to a standstil on Tuesday, demanding answers into the grievances sent to municipality and local government and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa in November 2014.
Shops were closed with rocks and refuse used as barriers in the streets of both towns as protesters demanded mayor Kholiswa Vimbayo address their grievances.
Included among concerns is a report on unfinished projects in the municipality, alleged corrupt activities in the municipality and a lack of employment.
In a telephonic interview on Wednesday, Chris Hani district chairman Nkosinathi Mhlambiso said Sanco in Cofimv- aba marched to the municipality to hand over their list of grievances to Xasa in November. “He did not arrive and the grievances were taken by the police. We received confirmation that he has received the grievances and he sent a team which was supposed to work with Sanco and the municipality in resolving the issues.”
Mhlambiso said the team worked with them until March this year, when the municipality allegedly refused to co-operate. Sanco had sent a letter to the municipality, given them seven days to respond or alternatively face a protest.
He said he had met with the municipality and Sanco to try to solve the problem and that, “I have been urging the municipality and the office of MEC Xasa to respond but they never did. The communi- ties from both towns were angry and they decided to take to the street to show their frustration.”
The public order police from Queenstown were on the scene, with the leadership of the region meeting with the Sanco Cofimvaba branch and the municipality on Wednesday.
In an interview, Vimbayo said matters could be resolved by talking and that there was no need for violence. She said the matter was believed to have been resolved in Tsomo, with a meeting due with the Sando Cofimvaba branch.
Police spokesman warrant officer Namhla Mdleleni said six people were arrested and charged with public violence.
Rubber bullets were fired after people blockaded the streets.