Violent service delivery protestors in Magaliesburg were adamant that their councillor must go. Residents took to the streets demanding, among others, jobs and the resignation of a ward councillor.
It’s true that some of the councillors are just there as cheque collectors. But of course, not all of them are useless; some truly are committed to their work.
Today angry Magaliesburg residents left a path of destruction with burned truck tyres, logs and rocks scattered all over the road, making it impassable. They hurled all kinds of expletive at a police contingent that was called to the scene to monitor the situation.
Police fired rubber bullets at the sometimes rowdy crowd, who in turn pelted them with stones.
In most cases their actions are aimed at councillors and they all purport to be against corruption in the municipality and government. Many of these protests are led by people known in the communities who like to call themselves leaders of concerned residents.
These so-called community leaders peddle the perception that councillors are corrupt. They do so without providing a shred of evidence that may assist to curb corruption and bring those who violate the law to book.
What is surprising in Gauteng is that in the very communities where people have said they are protesting against service delivery, evidence points to demonstrations taking place next to government projects.
In Magaliesburg, for instance, the people who are protesting are doing so in the presence of a new clinic that was built by great leaders like the late ward councillor Benjamini Faku Fuka, the late Abbisia NKoe, the late Lashman Baloyi, Gauteng legislature Deputy Speaker Uhuru Moiloa, Bongani Zulu and Wasp Gauteng provincial co-ordinator Raliphi George Master Push Xolelizwe. Let us use our ward committees because they can play an important role in creating a democratic culture of local participation and accountability.
