UNITED Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa said he would help Sterkspruit residents take their dream of becoming a stand-alone municipality to the Constitutional Court.
Holomisa, who spoke to about 300 people at the Sterkspruit Town Hall yesterday, said he would also take the community’s complaints to President Jacob Zuma.
Residents, under the Sterkspruit Civic Association (SCA), embarked on violent protest action, shutting down the town for weeks, demanding it break away from Senqu Municipality. They accused the municipality of favouring Lady Grey and Barkly East.
Holomisa said: “Putting your case to politicians alone will not help, we must explore other avenues.
“We will take the legal route, use our legal team and other advocates and argue on your behalf at the Constitutional Court. This has come to be a constitutional matter.”
The Sterkspruit community would not pay for the legal costs but the UDM would, he said.
“We don’t want even a penny from you. No one must go around and claim to collect money for this case to go to Constitutional Court.
“The only thing I want from you is that all the residents of Sterkspruit submit a signed petition that you want your own municipality.”
Holomisa said Sterkspruit residents should refuse to be used as “voting cattle”.
He heard how Sterkspruit residents shared water with livestock and put themselves at risk of contracting waterborne diseases.
The UDM leader’s trip follows that of DA leader Helen Zille, who visited Sterkspruit on April 6.
The ANC labelled Zille’s visit to the town “opportunistic”, and the SCA, which claims to be apolitical, distanced itself from her visit.
SCA chairman Mcebisi Mgojo said Holomisa was not invited by them.
“We have a planned meeting on May 5 where we are to relook at all the matters affecting us,” Mgojo said.
“We understand that government will not assist us in applying for a stand-alone municipality with the Demarcation Board.
“Although government ministers, and the premier, were here, they said they could not help us. This shows they lack political will to address the issues of Sterkspruit.”
“Any political organisation, including the ANC, welcome to come and sit down with us and see how they can help us,” Mgojo said. —
Holomisa vows to take up Sterkspruit’s cause
Holomisa, who spoke to about 300 people at the Sterkspruit Town Hall yesterday, said he would also take the community’s complaints to President Jacob Zuma.
Residents, under the Sterkspruit Civic Association (SCA), embarked on violent protest action, shutting down the town for weeks, demanding it break away from Senqu Municipality. They accused the municipality of favouring Lady Grey and Barkly East.
Holomisa said: “Putting your case to politicians alone will not help, we must explore other avenues.
“We will take the legal route, use our legal team and other advocates and argue on your behalf at the Constitutional Court. This has come to be a constitutional matter.”
The Sterkspruit community would not pay for the legal costs but the UDM would, he said.
“We don’t want even a penny from you. No one must go around and claim to collect money for this case to go to Constitutional Court.
“The only thing I want from you is that all the residents of Sterkspruit submit a signed petition that you want your own municipality.”
Holomisa said Sterkspruit residents should refuse to be used as “voting cattle”.
He heard how Sterkspruit residents shared water with livestock and put themselves at risk of contracting waterborne diseases.
The UDM leader’s trip follows that of DA leader Helen Zille, who visited Sterkspruit on April 6.
The ANC labelled Zille’s visit to the town “opportunistic”, and the SCA, which claims to be apolitical, distanced itself from her visit.
SCA chairman Mcebisi Mgojo said Holomisa was not invited by them.
“We have a planned meeting on May 5 where we are to relook at all the matters affecting us,” Mgojo said.
“We understand that government will not assist us in applying for a stand-alone municipality with the Demarcation Board.
“Although government ministers, and the premier, were here, they said they could not help us. This shows they lack political will to address the issues of Sterkspruit.”
“Any political organisation, including the ANC, welcome to come and sit down with us and see how they can help us,” Mgojo said. —
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