Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle, accompanied by cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa, has arrived in Ngcobo to meet with protesting residents.
The Daily Dispatch has reported that disgruntled by a lack of service delivery and what they claim is blatant abuse of taxpayers monies, residents, business owners and taxi owners shutdown Ngcobo on Wednesday demanding the removal of mayor Lizeka Bongo-Tyali, municipal manager Silulami Poswa and the entire municipal council.
They also wrote a petition to Masualle demanding that the premier to come and address them in person.
On his arrival Masualle had to plead with hundreds of restless protesters to allow him and Xasa to first meet with the leadership of the protesters behind closed doors.
"We are here to listen to you and we are not trying to hide anything," he said.
The two government leaders were still locked in a meeting with the protest leaders at the time of writing.