Community protest against library opening
The official opening of Langaville Library was postponed today (Monday) until further notice.
This comes after angry residents from different sections in that township protested outside the facility from 6.30am.
They burnt tires, used giant rocks to block access to the library while also chanting songs to voice their frustrations.
Speaking on behalf of the community, Lasi Makgoka said residents demand answers from the metro about how the process of hiring employees to work at the library process was conducted.
They alleged that people were employed in 2012 without consultation with the community.
“The ward Councillor should have informed the youth of Langaville to submit their CVs to apply for different jobs,” said Makgoka.
He continued to say that the community is also not happy with the fact that the library is being opened during the week, while most of the community members are at work and the learners who the metro claims to have built it for are at school.
Clr Mthumeleni Ndita denied the allegations that the community was not informed to apply for jobs at the library.
“Vacancy adverts were issued inviting everyone to apply for positions, including the community members of Langaville,”said Ndita.
The situation turned even more sour when the protestors came closer to the facility in their demand for the event to be postponed.
MMC for sport, heritage, recreation, arts and culture, Zeni Tshongweni had no choice but to postpone the event.
Tshongweni promised that a new date for the opening of the library will soon be communicated to the public.
