Bekkersdal community scolded for rioting
Areas where it’s worse have faith in ruling party, rally told
HERE are areas worse off than Bekkersdal when it comes to a lack of service delivery where residents have not resorted rioting.
This is the view of Cosatu deputy general secretary Bheki Ntshalintshali.
He was part of a high-powered Gauteng ANC delegation, which included Struggle stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, to the strife-torn township west of Joburg on Saturday.
They eventually addressed a rally under a heavy police presence, in marked and unmarked vehicles, as ministers from the security and justice cluster went about their mission separately, investigating whether voting would be under threat in Bekkersdal on Wednesday.
To ensure free electioneering, various specialised police units were deployed in the area.
In the past few months, some of the residents had prevented the ANC from openly campaigning for votes in the area, while other parties, such as the Economic Freedom Fighters, PAC, Azapo, DA and United Democratic Movement, were allowed to campaign.
At the centre of the conflict was Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane’s comments. She reportedly told residents during service delivery protests in the area the “ANC did not need their dirty votes” – a comment she later retracted.
The residents were protesting under the banner of the Concerned Residents Association over alleged acts of corruption in the Westonaria local municipality.
They also wanted the municipality placed under administration, claiming that an amount of R1.3 billion set
Taside for the Bekkersdal Urban Renewal Project in 2001 was misappropriated by individuals in the municipality.
Saturday was the first time the ANC was allowed to campaign openly in Bekkersdal.
Madikizela-Mandela was clearly the drawcard but did not give an address, saying she was still mourning the death of Nelson Mandela.
Addressing more than 1 000 ANC supporters, Ntshalintshali said Bekkersdal was better off than many other areas.
“There is an area, Duncan Village, in the Eastern Cape. Duncan Village is worse than your area. The people of Duncan Village never lose hope. They love the ANC and they know change will happen.”
Duncan Village residents never got involved in violent service delivery protests because they believed the ANC would improve their lives in the future, he said.
ANC Gauteng secretary David Makhura also assured ANC supporters and other residents that Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu’s office was investigating their claims of corruption.
Makhura said Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Lechesa Tsenoli had asked the auditorgeneral’s office to conduct the investigation.
He also said Tsenoli and Gauteng MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Ntombi Mekgwe had set up a task team to look into the alleged malfunctioning of the Westonaria local municipality.
Makhura same team would investigate the problems of housing on the West Rand.
ANC national chairwoman Baleka Mbete also appealed to residents to be patient, saying their concerns would be attended to after the elections.
Mbete said the ANC would “focus on local governments and deal with the rot in it” after the elections.
“The ANC will come closer to the villages, where local governments operate.”