Residents of Aliwal North yesterday said they would not blockade the N6 again.
This was after they had received the attention they demanded from cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) MEC Fikile Xasa. Their protest action has seen thousands of motorists delayed, many of them holidaymakers.
On Tuesday, people in Aliwal North made their problems with Walter Sisulu Municipality a transport problem when they brought Aliwal North to a standstill, blocking the N6 road this week.
Their problem is that Eskom has since mid-December been cutting power to Steynsburg and Aliwal North because of the municipalilty’s failure to settle its R141-million bill with Eskom.
Maletswai Resident’s Association spokesman Khayalethu Mnembe yesterday said they had received the attention they wanted and that Xasa had confirmed he would be having meetings with councillors, the business chamber and the community today.
“We are expecting him to tell the community what his plans for the municipality are. So far his office has done a lot to address the issue of Eskom and we hope that by next week everything will be sorted,” he said.
Mnembe claimed there was a plan by the MEC to put the municipality under administration but this could not be confirmed after Cogta spokesman Mamnkeli Ngam, did not answer his phone nor respond to SMSes.
Mnembe said: “We welcome that decision as the community, because we are faced with a situation where management has proven to be mismanaging our funds. We need help and the administrator is the only person who can take us out of this,” he said.
Mnembe said after blocking traffic on Tuesday, they had decided to close down all the offices that generate money for the municipality.
“We closed the traffic department and the town hall so people were not able to pay their rates and book for licences. We are saying no money will go to the municipality,” he said.
“As residents we are taken for granted yet we generate a lot of revenue. We need the MEC to attend to the issue of electricity immediately.
“This is a peaceful protest and to prove that, no one has been arrested and no damage to property has been reported,” Mnembe said.
Saturday Dispatch has a copy of a letter from Xasa dated January 3 2018, addressed to Joe Gqabi District Municipality executive mayor Zibonele Dumzela informing him about his visit to Aliwal North municipal offices today.
The letter states that Xasa will meet with the troika at 12pm up to 1pm, the business chamber at 1pm and hold a mass community meeting at 3pm at the stadium. — thembiles@dispatch.co.za
Aliwal residents end blockade
This was after they had received the attention they demanded from cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) MEC Fikile Xasa. Their protest action has seen thousands of motorists delayed, many of them holidaymakers.
On Tuesday, people in Aliwal North made their problems with Walter Sisulu Municipality a transport problem when they brought Aliwal North to a standstill, blocking the N6 road this week.
Their problem is that Eskom has since mid-December been cutting power to Steynsburg and Aliwal North because of the municipalilty’s failure to settle its R141-million bill with Eskom.
Maletswai Resident’s Association spokesman Khayalethu Mnembe yesterday said they had received the attention they wanted and that Xasa had confirmed he would be having meetings with councillors, the business chamber and the community today.
“We are expecting him to tell the community what his plans for the municipality are. So far his office has done a lot to address the issue of Eskom and we hope that by next week everything will be sorted,” he said.
Mnembe claimed there was a plan by the MEC to put the municipality under administration but this could not be confirmed after Cogta spokesman Mamnkeli Ngam, did not answer his phone nor respond to SMSes.
Mnembe said: “We welcome that decision as the community, because we are faced with a situation where management has proven to be mismanaging our funds. We need help and the administrator is the only person who can take us out of this,” he said.
Mnembe said after blocking traffic on Tuesday, they had decided to close down all the offices that generate money for the municipality.
“We closed the traffic department and the town hall so people were not able to pay their rates and book for licences. We are saying no money will go to the municipality,” he said.
“As residents we are taken for granted yet we generate a lot of revenue. We need the MEC to attend to the issue of electricity immediately.
“This is a peaceful protest and to prove that, no one has been arrested and no damage to property has been reported,” Mnembe said.
Saturday Dispatch has a copy of a letter from Xasa dated January 3 2018, addressed to Joe Gqabi District Municipality executive mayor Zibonele Dumzela informing him about his visit to Aliwal North municipal offices today.
The letter states that Xasa will meet with the troika at 12pm up to 1pm, the business chamber at 1pm and hold a mass community meeting at 3pm at the stadium. — thembiles@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos