More than 750 people marched to the Gert Sibande District Municipality(GSDM) offices last Friday in protest over land distribution and a councillor’s alleged arbitrary conduct.
The group comprised members of the South African Communist Party (SACP) in the Gert Sibande Region and residents from informal settlements around Ermelo
They want Ward 9 councillor, Ms Phumzile Mashiane, Chief Whip in the Msukaligwa Municipality, to be removed, making the following allegations:
• Violation of Section 32 of the Municipality System Act.
• Elected the ward committee on her own and dismissed those who did not take orders from her.
• Mislead the community of KwaMabuza farm by promising them title deeds for land on 17 September 2016.
• Failed to set up a meeting with residents of KwaMabuza to convey the Integrated Development Plan (IDP).
• Attends council meetings without the mandate of the community she serves.
• Repeated calls for meetings between her office and the community go unanswered.
Residents from informal settlements have been holding protest marches since last year and picketing outside the Msukaligwa Municipality offices, demanding basic service delivery or a total abolishing of informal settlements and free and fair land distribution.
The land distribution matter boiled over when the building of houses in Ext 7 in Wesselton began.
Houses are currently occupied and the MEC for Human Settlements, Mr Speedy Mashilo, handed it over to veterans at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in December.
The SACP and Middle Class Earners joined the movement, lending their voices to influence the municipal powers.
The municipality kept mum and did not respond to their calls which prompted the protest last Friday.
Thembeni, Khayelihle, Enkanini, Sicalo, and Bhubesini have no water, electrical connections or sewerage systems.
The issue of land was also raised with the protesting group demanding matters to be solved as soon as possible.
Most informal settlements are located on privately owned farms with the municipality unable to go in and provide service delivery.
The municipality is in talks with farm owners to buy the land from them to provide services, but the group accused them of stalling.
The municipal manager of GSDM, Mr Absenia Hlabile, received the memorandum on behalf of the executive mayor, Mr Muzi Chirwa, assuring the protesters a response within the allocated days.
The SACP has given the municipality 24 hours to remove Ms Mashiane and 14 working days to fix the land issue.
“Failure to do so,will result in a mass protest and we will bring this town to a standstill,” Mr Mzwandile Zulu, SACP secretary in GSDM, said.
At the time of going to print, Ms Mashiane was still in office.
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