BURGERSFORT – Alverton residents went on a rampage barricading the old Penge Road as they demanded the Greater Tubatse Municipality (GTM) to ensure they get access to clean water.
The residents proceeded to the municipality’s buildings where they handed a memorandum of demands to the GTM spokesman, Mr Thabiso Mokoena, on Monday August 30. Among their pleas was that a clinic be erected in the Alverton area.
“We have seen clinics built at villages like Mafarafara, but our area is always neglected,” they said.
The residents also want the municipality to ensure their houses are electrified. “There are still some sections in our area that are not having electricity, and it’s difficult living without power,” they said.
The protesters also accused the GTM of ignoring their pleas in acquiring roads in their village.
“We want roads to be erected in our villages, we previously issued our demands to the local Cllr Velly Mmoyane but it seems like he does not report our problems to the mayor Mr Ralepane Mamekoa and his team.”
Mokoena said they had accepted the memorandum but indicated that the march was not authorised.
“We were not expecting any march but because they have invaded the municipality, we had no choice but to accept their memorandum. We condemn the actions by residents to embark on protests without following normal procedures.”
Mokoena added that other services on the memorandum included installation of street lights, job creation by the municipality, erecting of speed humps and fencing of the graveyards.
Tubatse SAPS spokesman Const Sello Movundlela confirmed that they had arrested eight suspects for illegal gathering and public violence.
“We have arrested five women and three men at Alverton; they are still in custody. We will confirm the date when they will appear in court,” he said.
