The meeting was attended by Mayor Tsheko Musolwa, the acting municipal manager Dr Setimela Sebashe, Chief Whip Dipuo Thobejane and Speaker Blantina Raganya with Kgoshi Sekororo, the traditional council and leadership of Madeira and community members in Moshate. The upgrading of the road from gravel to tar was halted after angry community members blockaded the road preventing the contractor to continue with his work.

The road was rehabilitated about 20 years ago, but the tar washed away. “There were some misunderstandings after the project commenced; the residents felt that they needed to engage with government,” said the mayor. According to him MLM was told that the project could resume. “The outstanding issues of the community are currently being dealt with, the burning issues which needed to be resolved, have been resolved.

“There are some pending issues that will be addressed,” he added. However, Sello Harrolt Magabane from Madeira village, said the reason why the community blockaded the road was because the mayor told them on Monday, June 10 that he will not negotiate with a group of people who are angry because they need jobs. “He further stated that the people protesting was not community members but EFF members.

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“The municipality had a notion that they cannot reverse the hiring process because the employees have already signed contracts. This view was rejected by the community on Friday, June 21 and was also rejected by the Banareng ba Sekororo Royal Council today,” he said. He said the community told the municipality that if the hiring process is not restarted, they should recall the entire project. According to him the municipality has not changed their position on the hiring process due to signed employment contracts.

“As of now, the equipment was removed from the site (Tuesday, June 25), so it is not clear if the project will continue or whether they have recalled it.” He said that the traditional council has ruled that the project must continue, and that the municipality must rehire employees according to the community’s wish. Magabane said he was under the impression that the project was from Sekororo to the Moungwana bridge, via Lekane Primawry School. He said they were never briefed on the details of the project and that there is uncertainty among the community on what the scope of the project is.