In an extraordinary act of solidarity with service delivery protesters, Hogsback’s Community Tourism Association has cancelled its annual Hogsback Christmas in July festival.
In a statement, the local tourism body said it was unfortunate that electricity lines to the village had been cut.
This was after angry residents cut down electricity lines and threatened to disrupt the event if it was allowed to continue.
The tourism association’s festival organising committee said they had made their decision to “stand in solidarity with our neighbours”.
Saying that the protests had been peaceful, the committee said people were angry when the promise of a letter to be penned by their Nkonkobe mayor, Anele Ntsangani, which committed the municipality to service delivery, had not been honoured.
“As the Hogsback community tourism organisation, we have decided to cancel this year’s Xmas in July to stand in solidarity with our neighbours, friends and colleagues.
“As the Nkonkobe municipality is a sponsor of the event, it would be inappropriate for us to spend money on Xmas lights and not for bringing basic services to the village.”
Tensions started to run high on Thursday night at the picturesque village as residents started closing roads, cutting down trees and allegedly cutting off electricity supply.
They demanded that an environmental impact assessment letter be signed to allow development to continue in their village. The letter was expected to be signed by environment and economic affairs MEC Sakhumzi Somyo.
This is the second disruptive protest in the area in three months.
Ntsangani, the mayor, said Somyo visited their area yesterday and promised to attend to the residents’ needs.
He said he was also personally attending to the problems of Hogsback, mainly electricity and water supply.
“There are instigators here. I’ve been visiting the people on many occasions to try to resolve their issues,” he said.
“We have a committee that I am working with there, to prove that we are attending to them.”
Ntsangani said the municipality had employed people to carry out refuse removal in the area. “That tells you that we are prioritising the people’s needs in Hogsback.”
He said Eskom was ready to install electricity in the area but residents wanted the EIA approval letter signed.
“The MEC has made it clear that he won’t sign the letter until he receives a letter from the land affairs department to check if the people who lodged a land claim will opt for money or the land.
“For instance, if they want money, the letter will be signed by the MEC for the development to go ahead. We ask people to bear with us.”
The Christmas in July festival organisers said they had advised festival-goers and guests not to come to the event.
Ntsangani said it was unfortunate that the event would not go ahead. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
Christmas in July event cancelled
In a statement, the local tourism body said it was unfortunate that electricity lines to the village had been cut.
This was after angry residents cut down electricity lines and threatened to disrupt the event if it was allowed to continue.
The tourism association’s festival organising committee said they had made their decision to “stand in solidarity with our neighbours”.
Saying that the protests had been peaceful, the committee said people were angry when the promise of a letter to be penned by their Nkonkobe mayor, Anele Ntsangani, which committed the municipality to service delivery, had not been honoured.
“As the Hogsback community tourism organisation, we have decided to cancel this year’s Xmas in July to stand in solidarity with our neighbours, friends and colleagues.
“As the Nkonkobe municipality is a sponsor of the event, it would be inappropriate for us to spend money on Xmas lights and not for bringing basic services to the village.”
Tensions started to run high on Thursday night at the picturesque village as residents started closing roads, cutting down trees and allegedly cutting off electricity supply.
They demanded that an environmental impact assessment letter be signed to allow development to continue in their village. The letter was expected to be signed by environment and economic affairs MEC Sakhumzi Somyo.
This is the second disruptive protest in the area in three months.
Ntsangani, the mayor, said Somyo visited their area yesterday and promised to attend to the residents’ needs.
He said he was also personally attending to the problems of Hogsback, mainly electricity and water supply.
“There are instigators here. I’ve been visiting the people on many occasions to try to resolve their issues,” he said.
“We have a committee that I am working with there, to prove that we are attending to them.”
Ntsangani said the municipality had employed people to carry out refuse removal in the area. “That tells you that we are prioritising the people’s needs in Hogsback.”
He said Eskom was ready to install electricity in the area but residents wanted the EIA approval letter signed.
“The MEC has made it clear that he won’t sign the letter until he receives a letter from the land affairs department to check if the people who lodged a land claim will opt for money or the land.
“For instance, if they want money, the letter will be signed by the MEC for the development to go ahead. We ask people to bear with us.”
The Christmas in July festival organisers said they had advised festival-goers and guests not to come to the event.
Ntsangani said it was unfortunate that the event would not go ahead. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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