Essack takes people’s problems to parliament
On the same day, he also issued a notice without motion regarding the trucks making use of the town roads.
LYDENBURG – Given the recent dire situation in town with regards to roads and the forensic report, DA MP Farhad Essack has taken the matter to parliament. For the past six months, Thaba Chweu Local Municipality (TCLM) has been holding back the forensic report from being made public.
During a protest action three weeks ago, the mayor of TCLM, Selina Mashego, said that this report will only be released after nine months, as the municipality needs to do a “thorough” investigation into the findings in the report. Not only is this report being withheld, residents have also now begun with a petition against the haul trucks making use of the town roads.
Emmerentia Pretorius, the community member driving this petition, said that thousands of signatures have already been received. An online petition for those who cannot make it to the designated drop-offs has been created. Details regarding the online petition will be communicated to residents via Steelburger/Lydenburg News and Facebook. The signing of the petition will close on June 4, after which it will be handed to TCLM.
On May 15 Essack issued a motion with notice to the house regarding the forensic report. He said that, on behalf of the DA, he wished to move with notice that this house called upon the task team established by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, to report back on their investigation into the dire state of TCLM.
“A forensic investigation was initiated by Mpac and the damning results arrived at by an independent body not affiliated to any person or any political party was handed to the mayor of Thaba Chweu. This forensic report is being withheld from the community and public as well as the media, which has resulted in a severe, violent reaction from the community. We cannot continue to play politics with people’s lives and destroy businesses, resulting in further job losses. This house resolves to debate the state of the Thaba Chweu Local Municipality.”
On the same day, he also issued a notice without motion regarding the trucks making use of the town roads. Essack said that tourist buses are now using alternative roads to the Kruger National Park and this is having an adverse effect on the economies, of Lydenburg, Sabie, Graskop and Pilgrims Rest.
“This house calls on the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature MEC for public works, roads and transport, Mr Sasekani Manzini, to prioritise the repair of the province’s roads and that Mpumalanga should engage with mining stakeholders in the Lydenburg/ Mashishing area to assist with the repair and maintenance of the R36 road between Lydenburg and Badfontein.”
Response to the notices by Essack will be provided to the newspaper for publication.
