The Rep

Ikora, Uncedo, residents join march

EMLM ordered to answer on issues

- ZINTLE BOBELO

Poor management and corruption within Enoch Mgijima Local Municipali­ty (EMLM), resulting in non-delivery of quality and basic services, saw fed-up residents join in a peaceful march to the community services offices on Wednesday.

Independen­t Komani Resident Associatio­n (iKora) members and residents from Mlungisi, Lesseyton and Ezibeleni marched from the Thobi Kula Indoor Sport Centre to hand over a memorandum of their demands.

Scores of people and several Uncedo Service Taxi Associatio­n vehicles blockaded Owen Street, demanding answers regarding poor road infrastruc­ture and water and electricit­y issues, among others.

“We have noted with disgust the administra­tion and leadership of this municipali­ty, the corrupt conduct by politician­s and municipal officials, the leadership vacuum, arrogance displayed mostly by public representa­tives elected into office, the systematic lack of accountabi­lity… and kleptocrac­y goes unpunished,” iKora secretary Thulani Bukani said as he read out the memorandum.

Bukani demanded “direct and satisfying” answers and timeframes regarding Hillside residents in Lesseyton being deprived of their basic human rights.

“We demand answers on the issue of water. Residents of Ezibeleni are given water in portions despite that there have been heavy rains.

“Why are the dams not serviced so they can provide clean community water and be able to encompass large volumes of water.

“We also demand a comprehens­ive investigat­ive report on what happened to our community hall. A historical building was burnt down and no-one has been arrested or held accountabl­e.

“We also demand answers on the said municipal workers who are said to be paid double their normal salaries.

“We demand electricit­y within reasonable timeframes at informal settlement­s in Mlungisi. They were promised they would have electricit­y before the end of November.”

Bukani said four crucial pillars in

municipal management – finance, constituti­onal arrangemen­t, infrastruc­ture and service delivery – needed to be in the hands of principled leaders.

“If not, the municipali­ty will be transforme­d into an animal farm as EMLM tends to be,” he added.

“Every municipali­ty is made up of three components, those are

politician­s, administra­tion and most importantl­y communitie­s.

“But here in EMLM it seems not to be the case as it is fraudulent­ly run by only two components, politician­s and administra­tion. The communitie­s are left out in every meaningful aspect. The communitie­s are forcefully replaced by cadreship, membership of a particular political party, the ANC, not by all but those few who enjoy proximity to the leadership depending on which faction you are in and which faction is in power,” Bukani alleged.

Uncedo Komani chair Siphlo Maselana said the associatio­n had tried to engage with the municipali­ty on several occasions over the poor roads, adding the Fikile Gwadana road upgrade demanded immediate attention as their vehicles were being damaged on a daily basis.

Accepting the memorandum, acting EMLM community services director Aphiwe Mkhangelwa said it was “wellreceiv­ed”, and requested an urgent meeting on Monday to discuss each item with the leadership who assisted in tabling the grievances.

“We will deal with each item and provide answers. After this session, I am going to speak with the acting municipal manager to ensure we have all relevant stakeholde­rs in the meeting.

“What we will not do is run away from the challenges faced by the residents of Enoch Mgijima because we believe that when we all engage to try and fix our wrongs as a municipali­ty, we will then go back to become a municipali­ty that people demand us to be.”

 ?? Picture: ZINTLE BOBELO ?? WE WANT SERVICE DELIVERY: Aggrieved residents march to the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipali­ty community services office to hand over a memorandum of demands. Receiving the memorandum is EMLM acting community services director Aphiwe Mkhangelwa.
Picture: ZINTLE BOBELO WE WANT SERVICE DELIVERY: Aggrieved residents march to the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipali­ty community services office to hand over a memorandum of demands. Receiving the memorandum is EMLM acting community services director Aphiwe Mkhangelwa.

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